Manipulating Self-Avatar Body Dimensions in Virtual Worlds to Complement an Internet-Delivered Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Overweight Women

Jessica Navarro, Ausiàs Cebolla, Roberto Llorens, Adrián Borrego and Rosa M. Baños
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Jessica Navarro: Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Ausiàs Cebolla: Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Roberto Llorens: Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de investigación e Innovación en Bioingenieria, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Adrián Borrego: Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de investigación e Innovación en Bioingenieria, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Rosa M. Baños: Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Virtual reality has been found to be a useful tool for positively influencing relevant psychological variables in order to increase physical activity (PA), especially in the overweight population. This study investigates the use of avatars and their physical variations to extend the effectiveness of existing interventions to promote PA. The main objective is to analyze the influence of the avatars’ body dimensions on the efficacy of an Internet intervention to increase PA levels and improve other relevant variables (motivation toward PA, enjoyment, anxiety, self-efficacy, and PA goals). A total of 42 overweight women received a brief online intervention, and they were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: the “Ideal avatar” (IAC: participants are represented by avatars with ideal body dimensions); the “Real avatar” (RAC: participants are represented by avatars with participants’ current body dimensions); and the “Non avatar” (NAC: participants are not represented by avatars). Results showed that the online intervention was effective in increasing PA practice and self-efficacy expectations. However, manipulating the body dimensions of avatars did not improve this intervention, although ideal avatars helped to reduce the anxiety experienced during PA in this population.

Keywords: physical activity; overweight; virtual reality; virtual environments; avatars; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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