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Restore or Get Restored: The Effect of Control on Stress Reduction and Restoration in Virtual Nature Settings

Author

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  • Gerhard Reese

    (Department of Social, Environmental, and Economic Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

  • Elias Kohler

    (Department of Social, Environmental, and Economic Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

  • Claudia Menzel

    (Department of Social, Environmental, and Economic Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

Abstract

Virtual nature experiences can improve physiological and psychological well-being. Although there is ample research on the positive effects of nature, both in virtual and physical settings, we know little about potential moderators of restoration effects in virtual reality settings. According to theories of needs and control beliefs, it is plausible to assume that control over one’s actions affects how people respond to nature experiences. In this virtual reality (VR) experiment, 64 participants either actively navigated through a VR landscape or they were navigated by the experimenter. We measured their perceived stress, mood, and vitality before and after the VR experience as well as the subjective restoration outcome and the perceived restorativeness of the landscape afterwards. Results revealed that participants’ positive affective states increased after the VR experience, regardless of control. There was a main effect such that participants reported lower stress after the VR experience; however, this was qualified by an interaction showing that this result was only the case in the no control condition. These results unexpectedly suggest that active VR experiences may be more stressful than passive ones, opening pathways for future research on how handling of and navigating in VR can attenuate the effects of virtual nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerhard Reese & Elias Kohler & Claudia Menzel, 2021. "Restore or Get Restored: The Effect of Control on Stress Reduction and Restoration in Virtual Nature Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1995-:d:498362
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul T E Cusack, 2020. "On Pain," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24253-24254, October.
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    1. Emad Alyan & Theo Combe & Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli & Suziah Sulaiman & Frederic Merienne & Nadia Diyana Mohd Muhaiyuddin, 2021. "The Influence of Virtual Forest Walk on Physiological and Psychological Responses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Liying Zhu & Sining Dong & Xin Chen & Qingqing Zhou & Fangying Li & Guangyu Wang, 2024. "Does Social Distancing Affect the Stress Reduction and Attention Restoration of College Students in Different Natural Settings?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.

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