Abstract
Background: There is a high prevalence of stress in university students. Current stress management interventions are often scarce or challenging to implement. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation may be a useful alternative. Prior to evaluating the efficacy of VR relaxation, it is important to test its feasibility and acceptability in university students.Aims: Primarily test the feasibility and acceptability of a five-week VR relaxation training in university students, and secondarily explore its impact on clinical outcomes.
Methods: University students (n = 30) were recruited in a five-week VR relaxation training. A mixed methods design was utilised to test the feasibility and acceptability and explore the impact of the training on clinical outcomes.
Results: A five-week VR relaxation training: a) is feasible, as it possible to recruit sufficient participants and it has excellent retention and adherence; b) is acceptable, as it is experienced as positive, relaxing, immersive and resulting in impactful daily changes, though participants would value tailoring VR relaxation experiences according to preferences; and it had scarce adverse effects; and c) explorative analyses indicate a reduction in stress and increased relaxation and connection to nature in the short-term, and a reduction of worrying in the long-term. Depression, anxiety, stress, wellbeing and sleep did not show change in the long-term.
Conclusions: A five-week VR relaxation training is feasible and acceptable in university students and indicate beneficial changes for short-term stress, relaxation and connection to nature. Implications for students are discussed. Owing to methodological limitations, the findings on clinical outcomes need to be treated with caution. Further research in this promising area is warranted.
Date of Award | 1 Oct 2024 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisor | Lucia Valmaggia (Supervisor) & Simon Riches (Supervisor) |