Psychological and Physiological Responses in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The Use of Acute Exercise and Virtual Reality Environment

Tsai-Chiao Wang, Cindy Hui-Ping Sit, Ta-Wei Tang and Chia-Liang Tsai
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Tsai-Chiao Wang: Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Cindy Hui-Ping Sit: Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Ta-Wei Tang: Department of Leisure and Recreation Management, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan
Chia-Liang Tsai: Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Virtual exercise therapy is considered a useful method by which to encourage patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to engage in aerobic exercise in order to reduce stress. This study was intended to explore the psychological and physiological responses of patients with GAD after cycling in a virtual environment containing natural images. Seventy-seven participants with GAD were recruited in the present study and randomly assigned to a virtual nature (VN) or a virtual abstract painting (VAP) group. Their electroencephalogram alpha activity, perceived stress, and levels of restorative quality and satisfaction were assessed at baseline and after an acute bout of 20 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. The results showed that both the VN and VAP groups showed significantly higher alpha activity post-exercise as compared to pre-exercise. The VN group relative to the VAP group exhibited higher levels of stress-relief, restorative quality, and personal satisfaction. These findings imply that a virtual exercise environment is an effective way to induce a relaxing effect in patients with GAD. However, they exhibited more positive psychological responses when exercising in such an environment with natural landscapes.

Keywords: virtual environment; acute exercise; EEG; perceived stress; restorative quality; satisfaction; generalized anxiety disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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