Adolescents’ Perceptions of Gender Aspects in a Virtual-Reality-Based Alcohol-Prevention Tool: A Focus Group Study

Christina Prediger, Robert Hrynyschyn, Iasmina Iepan and Christiane Stock
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Christina Prediger: Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Robert Hrynyschyn: Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Iasmina Iepan: Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Christiane Stock: Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative tool for alcohol prevention among adolescents. However, many aspects of virtual simulations for alcohol prevention remained unstudied, and research on opportunities for tailoring such tools to users’ gender using avatar-based pathways is lacking. The present study, therefore, explores adolescents’ perceptions of gender portrayal and gender tailoring using Virtual LimitLab —a VR simulation for building refusal skills for dealing with peer pressure to consume alcohol. Focus groups were conducted after individual simulation testing with 13 adolescents in four groups, whose statements and discussion underwent thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: the relevance of gender , opinions on different tailoring options for gender, and opinions on flirt orientation . Divergent arguments for different tailoring options and representations of gender in the simulation were proposed. Some participants changed opinions during discussions. Sexual harassment was consensually deemed an important issue that is linked to both partying and alcohol and was concluded to require being addressed along with alcohol prevention. A consensus also formed around open flirting possibilities (regardless of gender), and awareness of non-binary peers was raised. Based on the observed sensitivity of the adolescents to gender diversity, it is necessary to include LGBTQIA+ adolescents when developing gender-sensitive simulations.

Keywords: gender; virtual reality; alcohol prevention; adolescents; focus groups; thematic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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