The Influence of Virtual Forest Walk on Physiological and Psychological Responses

Emad Alyan, Theo Combe, Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli, Suziah Sulaiman, Frederic Merienne and Nadia Diyana Mohd Muhaiyuddin
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Emad Alyan: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
Theo Combe: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
Suziah Sulaiman: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
Frederic Merienne: Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, LISPEN, HESAM Université, F-71100 Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Nadia Diyana Mohd Muhaiyuddin: School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, University Utara Malaysia, Sintok 06010, Kedah, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: The authors of this paper sought to investigate the impact of virtual forest therapy based on realistic versus dreamlike environments on reducing stress levels. Today, people are facing an increase in stress levels in everyday life, which may be due to personal life, work environment, or urban area expansion. Previous studies have reported that urban environments demand more attention and mental workload than natural environments. However, evidence for the effects of natural environments as virtual forest therapy on stress levels has not yet been fully explored. In this study, a total of 20 healthy participants completed a letter-detection test to increase their stress level and were then randomly assigned to two different virtual environments representing realistic and dreamlike graphics. The participants’ stress levels were assessed using two physiological methods that measured heart rate and skin conductance levels and one psychological method through the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. These indicators were analyzed using a sample t -test and a one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that virtual forest environments could have positive stress-relieving effects. However, realistic graphics were more efficient in reducing stress. These findings contribute to growing forest therapy concepts and provide new directions for future forest therapy research.

Keywords: virtual reality (VR); stress; forest therapy; psychophysiological response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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