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Song Y, Ali N, Nater UM. The effect of music on stress recovery. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 168:107137. [PMID: 39024851 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous research has suggested beneficial effects of music in reducing stress levels. However, there is no consistent conclusion demonstrating that music can contribute to stress recovery, primarily due to limitations in stress measurement, and inconsistent methodology within existing studies. Our study explores whether relaxing music, especially when self-selected, outperforms non-music acoustic, and silence conditions, fostering both subjective and biological stress recovery. METHODS One hundred and five healthy female participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) before being randomly allocated to one of four conditions: condition 1 (n = 25) listened to researcher-selected relaxing music; condition 2 (n = 27) listened to self-selected relaxing music; condition 3 (n = 26) listened to the sound of rippling water; and condition 4 (n = 27) remained in silence. Stress parameters were repeatedly measured nine times before and after the TSST. Saliva samples were collected for cortisol and saliva alpha-amylase (sAA) analysis, Movisens equipment was used to measure heart rate (HR) and skin conductance levels (SCL), and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were used for subjective stress measurement. RESULTS The examination of SCL, and VAS scores revealed no significant changes following the four relaxation interventions. Although sAA displayed a significant main effect of condition, post hoc tests did not pinpoint specific differences. HR recovery patterns varied among the four relaxation interventions, with the sound of rippling water condition exhibiting a later significant decrease compared to the other conditions. Exploratory analyses revealed that cortisol levels continued increase in all conditions during intervention phase except the researcher-selected music condition. CONCLUSIONS The subjective and biological stress markers did not exhibit better recovery after the music stimulus, except for a tendency in the researcher-selected music condition to mitigate the continued increase in cortisol levels after the stress test. Our study provides the first evidence comparing the impact of researcher- and participant-selected music with silence and a non-music acoustic stimulus, on both subjective and biological stress recovery. Our findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the impact of music on stress recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Song
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", Austria
| | - Nida Ali
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", Austria
| | - Urs M Nater
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", Austria.
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Sayilan S, Aydin Sayilan A, Temiz Z, Kandemir D. The effect of listening to the sound of running water on pain and anxiety experienced during cannulation by hemodialysis patients: A randomized, controlled, open-label study. Ther Apher Dial 2024. [PMID: 39215434 DOI: 10.1111/1744-9987.14200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study was conducted to determine the effect of the sound of running water, which we had not previously encountered being used in dialysis patients, on invasive pain and anxiety experienced during cannulation. METHODS The research was conducted as a randomized, controlled study. A descriptive form, a VAS pain scale, and state-trait anxiety scales were used as a data collection form. The data were analyzed on SPSS version 22.00 for Windows software. The independent groups t-test was applied to compare descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, number, and percentage in independent groups, while categorical data were compared using the chi-square test. The effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable was tested using linear regression analysis. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS The study was completed with 32 experimental and 33 control group patients. There was no significant difference in pre-intervention pain and anxiety between the groups. The pain levels of the patients after the first and 12th cannulations were significantly lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05). State and trait anxiety levels were also significantly lower in the experimental group at the 12th session (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION We conclude that the sound of running water has a significant positive effect on pain and anxiety experienced during cannulation by dialysis patients. We recommend that clinicians apply such a simple method as listening to the sound of running water for reducing pain and anxiety during invasive procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samet Sayilan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kirklareli Medicine Faculty, Kirklareli, Turkey
| | - Aylin Aydin Sayilan
- Nursing Department, Kirklareli University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kirklareli, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Temiz
- Nursing Department, Artvin Çoruh University Faculty of Health Sciences, Artvin, Turkey
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Meore A, Ganesh N, Sun S, Singer A, Byma L, Lorenzetti B, Feder A, Adams T, Galfalvy H, Boyer J, Haghighi F. Pilot study of telehealth delivery of horticultural therapy (TeleHT) as an acceptable intervention and in reducing suicide risk factors in veterans. Complement Ther Med 2024; 85:103075. [PMID: 39147286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Converging evidence indicates that Horticultural Therapy (HT) contributes to significant reductions in stress, loneliness, and depression, notable risk factors for suicidality. This pilot study aimed to assess the initial feasibility and acceptability of HT when virtually administered. INTERVENTION Telehealth-delivered horticultural therapy (TeleHT) was administered to groups of Veterans, including those with elevated suicide risk over the course of four weeks. Participants were each sent a package through the mail of at-home gardening supplies that were used to facilitate multisensory, nature experiences during weekly HT sessions administered via Zoom. OUTCOME MEASURES Participants completed thermometer-based scales for the suicide risk factors of stress, loneliness, depression, and pain before and after each TeleHT session. Post-intervention qualitative assessments were completed upon the conclusion of the four-week intervention. RESULTS Significant reductions in stress, depression, and loneliness risk were observed from weekly pre- to post-session measures (p < 0.05), with 89.1 % HT completion rate. Stress, pain, depression, and loneliness indices also showed small to medium sized symptom reduction amongst Veterans with no history of suicidality (Cohen's d=-0.70, d=-0.49, d=-0.62, d=-0.71), while those with elevated suicide risk at baseline also showed reduction in these risk factors with small to medium effect sizes (d=-0.58, d=-.018, d=-0.46, d=-0.41). Qualitative post-intervention assessments indicated a high degree of acceptability and pointed to the inclusion of mailed gardening packages as particularly relevant to positive experiences. CONCLUSIONS While future work is needed to fully assess efficacy, findings from this pilot study demonstrate an initial feasibility and acceptability through a high retention rate and positive qualitative assessments for TeleHT that mirror that of the in-person intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Meore
- New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Shengnan Sun
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Akiva Singer
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Byma
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Ann Feder
- New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Toby Adams
- New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Fatemeh Haghighi
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Finseth TT, Smith B, Van Steenis AL, Glahn DC, Johnson M, Ruttle P, Shirtcliff BA, Shirtcliff EA. When virtual reality becomes psychoneuroendocrine reality: A stress(or) review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107061. [PMID: 38701607 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
This review article was awarded the Dirk Hellhammer award from ISPNE in 2023. It explores the dynamic relationship between stressors and stress from a historical view as well as a vision towards the future of stress research via virtual reality (VR). We introduce the concept of a "syncytium," a permeable boundary that blurs the distinction between stress and stressor, in order to understand why the field of stress biology continues to inadequately measure stress alone as a proxy for the force of external stressors. Using Virtual Reality (VR) as an illustrative example to explicate the black box of stressors, we examine the distinction between 'immersion' and 'presence' as analogous terms for stressor and stress, respectively. We argue that the conventional psychological approaches to stress measurement and appraisal theory unfortunately fall short in quantifying the force of the stressor, leading to reverse causality fallacies. Further, the concept of affordances is introduced as an ecological or holistic tool to measure and design a stressor's force, bridging the gap between the external environment and an individual's physiological response to stress. Affordances also serve to ameliorate shortcomings in stress appraisal by integrating ecological interdependencies. By combining VR and psychobiological measures, this paper aims to unravel the complexity of the stressor-stress syncytium, highlighting the necessity of assessing both the internal and external facets to gain a holistic understanding of stress physiology and shift away from reverse causality reasoning. We find that the utility of VR extends beyond presence to include affordance-based measures of immersion, which can effectively model stressor force. Future research should prioritize the development of tools that can measure both immersion and presence, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of how external stressors interact with individual psychological states.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon Smith
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
| | | | - David C Glahn
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
| | - Megan Johnson
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
| | - Paula Ruttle
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Oregon, USA
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Bratman GN, Mehta A, Olvera-Alvarez H, Spink KM, Levy C, White MP, Kubzansky LD, Gross JJ. Associations of nature contact with emotional ill-being and well-being: the role of emotion regulation. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:748-767. [PMID: 38362747 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2316199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Nature contact has associations with emotional ill-being and well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are not fully understood. We hypothesised that increased adaptive and decreased maladaptive emotion regulation strategies would be a pathway linking nature contact to ill-being and well-being. Using data from a survey of 600 U.S.-based adults administered online in 2022, we conducted structural equation modelling to test our hypotheses. We found that (1) frequency of nature contact was significantly associated with lesser emotional ill-being and greater emotional well-being, (2) effective emotion regulation was significantly associated with lesser emotional ill-being and greater emotional well-being, and (3) the associations of higher frequency of nature contact with these benefits were partly explained via emotion regulation. Moreover, we found a nonlinear relationship for the associations of duration of nature contact with some outcomes, with a rise in benefits up to certain amounts of time, and a levelling off after these points. These findings support and extend previous work that demonstrates that the associations of nature contact with emotional ill-being and well-being may be partly explained by changes in emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ashish Mehta
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Chaja Levy
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mathew P White
- Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James J Gross
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Chen X, Yang Z. Natural five-sense experience and positive and negative emotions: the mediating role of nature connectedness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39039757 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2381566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Nature experience is a relatively easy and beneficial measure for improving emotions. Individuals experience nature through proximal senses (tactile, gustatory, and olfactory) and distal senses (vision and audition). This study examined the relationships between diverse natural senses experience and individuals' positive and negative emotions, along with the mediating role of nature connectedness. We recruited 978 college students (Mage = 20.09 ± 1.09 years old) from Beijing, China. The results showed that tactile experience (e.g. touching trees and water) was negatively related to negative emotions, while gustatory experience (e.g. tasting fresh fruits) was positively correlated with positive emotions. Furthermore, nature connectedness mediated the relationship between other natural sensory experiences and positive and negative emotions, except for the insignificant mediation between olfactory experiences and negative emotions. Therefore, individuals should emphasize the role of the proximal senses (especially tactile and gustatory experiences) during nature experiences and increase nature connectedness to maintain positive emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Yang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, P. R. China
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Pavic K, Vergilino-Perez D, Gricourt T, Chaby L. Age-related differences in subjective and physiological emotion evoked by immersion in natural and social virtual environments. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15320. [PMID: 38961132 PMCID: PMC11222553 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66119-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related changes in emotional processing are complex, with a bias toward positive information. However, the impact of aging on emotional responses in positive everyday situations remains unclear. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for investigating emotional processing, offering a unique balance between ecological validity and experimental control. Yet, limited evidence exists regarding its efficacy to elicit positive emotions in older adults. Our study aimed to explore age-related differences in positive emotional responses to immersion in both social and nonsocial virtual emotional environments. We exposed 34 younger adults and 24 older adults to natural and social 360-degree video content through a low immersive computer screen and a highly immersive Head-Mounted Display, while recording participants' physiological reactions. Participants also provided self-report of their emotions and sense of presence. The findings support VR's efficacy in eliciting positive emotions in both younger and older adults, with age-related differences in emotional responses influenced by the specific video content rather than immersion level. These findings underscore the potential of VR as a valuable tool for examining age-related differences in emotional responses and developing VR applications to enhance emotional wellbeing across diverse user populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Pavic
- Université Paris Cité, Vision Action Cognition, F-92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- SocialDream, Research and Development Department, Bourg-de-Péage, France
| | | | - Thierry Gricourt
- SocialDream, Research and Development Department, Bourg-de-Péage, France
| | - Laurence Chaby
- Université Paris Cité, Vision Action Cognition, F-92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Institut des systemes intelligents et de robotique (ISIR), CNRS, F-75005, Paris, France.
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Kong PR, Han KT. Psychological and physiological effects of soundscapes: A systematic review of 25 experiments in the English and Chinese literature. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172197. [PMID: 38582113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to conduct a comprehensive and rigorous investigation of both psychological and physiological responses to, and audio-visual interactions with, soundscapes to present an overview of the current status and to provide suggestions for future research. Our literature search focused on empirical and quantitative studies of journal articles and gray literature in English and Chinese. This systematic review excluded literature related to pure music, religious sounds, humanistic sounds, historical sounds, medical research, and differences in materials used. The Joanna Briggs Institute's Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Twenty-five studies were included, involving 1950 participants. The major findings of this systematic review were that: (1) there were significant associations between the psychological and physiological responses; (2) the audio-visual interaction affected the psychological and physiological responses; and (3) because of the high risk of bias of the included studies, interpretation of their findings should be cautious. Nevertheless, given that this systematic review has a higher level of evidence than a single study and the synthesized evidence identified in this review is aligned with the results of other studies, the studies reviewed herein together provide consistent evidence. Replications are important in empirical research to build trustworthy results. Future research should focus on the psychological responses of pleasantness, preference, tranquility, the eight semantic dimensions (ISO 12913-2:2018), and the 11 pairs of adjectives describing the soundscape (Ba et al., 2023) and the physiological responses of heart rate variability and salivary, and follow the CONSORT guidelines to improve the research quality. An integration of sensory modalities, environmental factors, contextual indicators, temporal data, demographic variables, socio-cultural factors, and psychological and physiological responses may provide deeper insights into how people experience and understand the acoustic environment in context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Rou Kong
- Department of Landscape Architecture, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, No.57, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Rd., Taiping Dist., Taichung 41170, Taiwan.
| | - Ke-Tsung Han
- Department of Landscape Architecture, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, No.57, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Rd., Taiping Dist., Taichung 41170, Taiwan.
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Pardini S, Kim S, de Jesus B, Lopes MKS, Leggett K, Falk TH, Smith C, Appel L. SafeVRwards: Designing a complementary virtual reality module to the Safewards framework intended to relax and manage conflict in mental health wards. BMJ Open Qual 2024; 13:e002769. [PMID: 38834370 PMCID: PMC11163655 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-002769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aggression and negative activation in mental health inpatient units pose significant challenges for both patients and staff with severe physical and psychological ramifications. The Safewards model is an evidence-based conflict-containment framework including 10 strategies, such as 'Calm Down Methods'. As virtual reality (VR) scenarios have successfully enhanced anxiolytic and deactivating effects of therapeutic interventions, they are increasingly considered a means to enhance current models, like Safewards. OBJECTIVES The present participatory design investigates the feasibility and user experience of integrating VR therapy as an add-on strategy to the Safewards model, gathering preliminary data and qualitative feedback from bedside staff in an adult inpatient mental health unit. METHODS An exploratory within-subjects design combining qualitative observations, self-report questionnaires and semistructured interviews is employed with four nurse champions from the mental health unit at Michael Garron Hospital (Toronto, Canada). RESULTS A chronological overview of the design process, adaptations and description of the user experience is reported. CONCLUSION 'SafeVRwards' introduces VR as a promising conflic-containment strategy complementary to the Safewards model, which can be optimised for deployment through user-oriented refinements and enhanced customisation capacity driven by clinical staff input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Pardini
- Bruno Kessler Foundation, Trento, Italy
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Shua Kim
- University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Belmir de Jesus
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marilia K S Lopes
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Thiago H Falk
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christopher Smith
- Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lora Appel
- University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Martin L, White MP, Elliott LR, Grellier J, Astell-Burt T, Bratman GN, Lima ML, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Ojala A, Roiko A, van den Bosch M, Fleming LE. Mechanisms underlying the associations between different types of nature exposure and sleep duration: An 18-country analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118522. [PMID: 38403148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Whilst green space has been linked to healthier sleep outcomes, the roles of specific types of nature exposure, potential underlying mechanisms, and between-country variations in nature-sleep associations have received little attention. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from an 18-country sample of adults (N = 16,077) the current study examined: 1) the relative associations between six different types of nature exposure (streetscape greenery, blue view from home, green space within 1 km, coast within 1 km, green space visits, blue space visits) and insufficient sleep (<6 h vs. 7-10 h per day); 2) whether these relationships were mediated by better mental wellbeing and/or physical activity; and 3) the consistency of these pathways among the different countries. After controlling for covariates, neighbourhood nature measures (green space, coast within 1 km) were not significantly associated with insufficient sleep; but nature visible from home (streetscape greenery, blue views) and recreational visits to green and blue spaces were each associated with less insufficient sleep. Significant nature-sleep associations were mediated, to varying degrees, by better mental wellbeing, but not self-reported physical activity. Country-level heterogeneity in the strength of nature-sleep associations was observed. Increasing nature visible from the home may represent a promising strategy for promoting healthier sleep duration at the population level, whilst nature-based interventions encouraging individuals to spend time in local green/blue spaces may be an appropriate target to assist individuals affected by insufficient sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Martin
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK.
| | - Mathew P White
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK; Cognitive Science HUB & Urban and Environmental Psychology Group, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | - James Grellier
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK; Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Thomas Astell-Burt
- Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), NSW, Australia; School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, USA
| | - Maria L Lima
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ann Ojala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland
| | - Anne Roiko
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
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Schaupp J, Hediger K, Wunderli JM, Schäffer B, Tobias S, Kolecka N, Bauer N. Psychophysiological effects of walking in forests and urban built environments with disparate road traffic noise exposure: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:250. [PMID: 38711162 PMCID: PMC11073983 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01720-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is a widespread phenomenon and reality of everyday life, entailing negative consequences for physical and psychological wellbeing. Previous studies have indicated that exposure to greenspaces and nature-based interventions are promising approaches to reducing stress and promoting restoration. However, an increasing percentage of the population lives in urban regions with limited opportunities to spend time in greenspaces. In addition, urban settings typically feature increased levels of noise, which represents a major environmental stressor. Although various studies have compared the effects of exposure to greenspaces versus urban built environments, evidence of the effects of noise in this context is very limited. Psychophysiological benefits of exposure to greenspaces compared to urban built environments reported in earlier studies might be less (or at least not only) due to features of the greenspaces than to additional stressors, such as road traffic noise in the urban built environment. Hence, differences in the effects attributed to greenness in previous studies may also be due to potentially detrimental noise effects in comparison settings. This paper reports the study protocol for a randomized, controlled intervention study comparing the effects of walking in forest versus urban built environments, taking road traffic noise exposure during walks in the respective settings into account. METHODS The protocol envisages a field study employing a pretest-posttest design to compare the effects of 30-min walks in urban built environments and forests with different road traffic noise levels. Assessments will consist of self-reported measures, physiological data (salivary cortisol and skin conductance), an attention test, and noise, as well as greenness measurements. The outcomes will be restoration, stress, positive and negative affect, attention, rumination, and nature connectedness. DISCUSSION The results will inform about the restorative effect of walking in general, of exposure to different types of environments, and to different noise levels in these sites. The study will provide insights into the benefits of walking and nature-based interventions, taking into account the potential detrimental effects of noise exposure. It will thus facilitate a better understanding of low-threshold interventions to prevent stress and foster wellbeing. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN48943261 ; Registered 23.11.2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schaupp
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Karin Hediger
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Marc Wunderli
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schäffer
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Tobias
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Kolecka
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Bauer
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Yuan L, Li D, Tian Y, Sun Y. Greenness, Genetic Predisposition, and Tinnitus. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306706. [PMID: 38445888 PMCID: PMC11077638 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the association between residential greenness and tinnitus and the potential interaction between greenness and genetic predisposition to tinnitus. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to measure residential greenness. The tinnitus is defined based on self-reported. In the cross-sectional analyses, logistic regression models are used for the baseline sample of the United Kingdom Biobank cohort. In the secondary analysis, a Cox proportional hazard model is used for a subsample of participants who completed the tinnitus questionnaire at follow-up. In the cross-sectional analysis including 106471 participants, higher residential greenness is associated with lower odds of tinnitus for each interquartile range increase in continuous NDVI, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.95 to 0.99) for tinnitus. A similar association is observed in the longitudinal analysis, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 0.98) for the association of NDVI increased per interquartile range with incident tinnitus. Moreover, there is a significant interaction between greenness and genetic predisposition to tinnitus (P < 0.05). This study suggested that residential greenness is negatively associated with tinnitus. Greenness and genetic predisposition to tinnitus are found to have a significant interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan‐Lai Yuan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430022China
| | - Dan‐Kang Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Healthand State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating)School of Public HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430030China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430030China
| | - Yao‐Hua Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Healthand State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating)School of Public HealthTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430030China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430030China
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430022China
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430022China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and RegenerationWuhan430022China
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13
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Yin M, Li K, Xu Z, Jiao R, Yang W. Exploring the impact of autumn color and bare tree landscapes in virtual environments on human well-being and therapeutic effects across different sensory modalities. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301422. [PMID: 38635838 PMCID: PMC11025894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the potential health benefits of the natural environment for human well-being. Given the fast-paced nature of contemporary lifestyles, research into the use of virtual environments as a means to provide various seasonal landscapes has gained increasing importance. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of different sensory modes on the preferences and therapeutic effects of virtual autumn landscapes on university campuses. METHODS In this study, 320 participants, with an average age of 21.11 years (±1.21 years), were exposed to virtual environments featuring autumn color landscapes and bare tree landscapes using visual, auditory, and combined conditions. A control group was included for comparison. Differences in participants' physiological indicators (EEG, heart rate) and psychological measures (POMS, PANAS, SVS, ROS) were analyzed, with the use of the Holm correction (P < 0.05). RESULTS (1) Autumn virtual landscapes with color had a superior therapeutic effect. (2) There were significant differences in the therapeutic effects of different sensory modes within the same season's landscape categories, suggesting that incorporating additional sensory dimensions may enhance therapeutic outcomes. CONCLUSION Based on the study's findings, we recommend that when designing therapeutic environments, attention should be given to seasonal variations and the integration of various sensory modes to optimize therapeutic results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglei Yin
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang, China
| | - Kankan Li
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang, China
| | - Zhiman Xu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang, China
| | - Rui Jiao
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang, China
| | - Wenzhi Yang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang, China
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14
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Zhu R, Yuan L, Pan Y, Wang Y, Xiu D, Liu W. Effects of natural sound exposure on health recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171052. [PMID: 38373459 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Listening to natural sounds, both live and recorded, in either a natural or built environment is considered natural sound exposure (NSE). Sound is closely related to daily life, and research on the restorative effects of natural sounds is expanding. However, there is a lack of quantitative and comprehensive analysis on the impact of NSE on health recovery. This study systematically reviewed and conducted a meta-analysis on the impact of NSE on health recovery. Fifteen studies (1285 participants) were selected for the meta-analysis out of the 1157 literatures about the recovery of the NSE, searched from the Web of Science and Science Direct. The results indicate that NSE has certain positive effects: (a) In terms of emotional changes, NSE significantly reduces anxiety as measured by both the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) -2.31 (95 % CI -2.83, -1.79) and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) -12.22 (95 % CI -22.46, -1.98). (b) In terms of physiological reaction, NSE resulted in reduced heart rate (HR) -5.46 (95 % CI -9.62, -1.31), systolic blood pressure (SBP) -11.74 (95 % CI -15.51, -7.97), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) -13.98 (95 % CI -24.96, -2.99) and respiratory rate (RR) -1.58 (95 % CI -3.06, -0.10). (c) While the potential for restoration of cognitive performance by NSE was found, no consistent conclusions have been reached yet. However, there was significant heterogeneity between studies, primarily attributed to variations in study populations and methodologies. Because of the limited literature, we did not conduct subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis. It is recommended that future studies address this heterogeneity by including more and higher-quality literature and employing rigorous methodologies to establish a robust foundation for evidence-based medicine. This will be of great significance for the application natural sounds in landscape planning and medical rehabilitation environments, and has the potential to promote improvements in public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruirui Zhu
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China.
| | - Liyun Yuan
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Yanting Pan
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Yefan Wang
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Danping Xiu
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Weiyi Liu
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
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15
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Riches S, Taylor L, Jeyarajaguru P, Veling W, Valmaggia L. Virtual reality and immersive technologies to promote workplace wellbeing: a systematic review. J Ment Health 2024; 33:253-273. [PMID: 36919828 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2182428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Work-related stress negatively impacts employee wellbeing. Stress-management interventions that reduce workplace stress can be challenging. Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), may provide an alternative. AIMS This systematic review aimed to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of immersive technologies to promote workplace wellbeing (PROSPERO 268460). METHODS Databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Embase were searched until 22nd July 2021. Studies were included if they tested a workforce or were designed for a workplace. Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool (EPHPP) was used for quality ratings. RESULTS There were 17 studies (N = 1270), published 2011-2021. Over half were conducted in Europe. Eight studies were controlled trials. Most studies involved brief, single sessions of immersive VR and provided evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness when measuring wellbeing-related variables such as stress, relaxation, and restoration. VR environments included relaxation tasks such as meditation or breathing exercises, and nature-based stimuli, such as forests, beaches, and water. Studies tested office workers, healthcare professionals, social workers, teachers, and military personnel. EPHPP ratings were "strong" (N = 1), "moderate" (N = 13), and "weak" (N = 3). CONCLUSIONS VR relaxation appears helpful for workplaces. However, limited longer-term data, controlled trials, and naturalistic studies mean conclusions must be drawn cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Riches
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, London, UK
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Lawson Taylor
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Priyanga Jeyarajaguru
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Wim Veling
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucia Valmaggia
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Egorov AI, Griffin SM, Styles JN, Kobylanski J, Klein J, Wickersham L, Ritter R, Sams E, Hudgens EE, Wade TJ. Time outdoors and residential greenness are associated with reduced systemic inflammation and allostatic load. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123408. [PMID: 38278402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Contacts with nature are linked with reduced morbidity and mortality. Hypothesized pathways include relaxation, physical activity, and improved immune function. This cross-sectional study of 320 adults in central North Carolina assessed health benefits of residential greenness using allostatic load (AL) and systemic inflammation (INFL) indices, composite biomarker-based measures of physiological dysregulation and inflammation, respectively. Distance-to-residence weighted tree cover and vegetated land cover measures were estimated within 500 m of each residence; 37 biomarkers of immune, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and metabolic functions were dichotomized at distribution or health-based cut-offs. AL was calculated as a sum of potentially unhealthy values of all biomarkers; INFL was based on a subset of 18 immune biomarkers. Regression analysis used generalized additive models for Poisson-distributed outcome. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in tree cover was associated with 0.89 (95 % Confidence Limits 0.82; 0.97) and 0.90 (0.79; 1.03)-fold change in AL and INFL, respectively. Greater daily outdoor time was associated with reduced AL and INFL, while leisure screen time, problems with sleeping, and common chronic infections were linked with increased AL and INFL. Among 138 individuals spending more than 1 h outdoors daily, an IQR increase in tree cover was associated with 0.76 (0.67; 0.86) and 0.81 (0.65; 1.02)-fold changes in AL and INFL, respectively. Among individuals with residential tree cover above the 50th percentile, spending more than 3 h outdoors daily was associated with 0.54 (0.37; 0.78) and 0.28 (0.15; 0.54)-fold changes in AL and INFL, respectively, compared to spending less than 30 min outdoors; there were no significant effects in the low tree cover stratum. Consistent but weaker effects were observed for vegetated land cover. Interaction effects of tree and vegetative cover and time spent outdoors on AL and INFL were statistically significant. This biomarker-based approach can help to assess public health benefits of green spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey I Egorov
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Shannon M Griffin
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer N Styles
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jason Kobylanski
- ORAU Student Services Contractor, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jo Klein
- ORAU Student Services Contractor, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lindsay Wickersham
- ORAU Student Services Contractor, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca Ritter
- ORAU Student Services Contractor, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sams
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Edward E Hudgens
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Timothy J Wade
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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17
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Pardini S, Gabrielli S, Olivetto S, Fusina F, Dianti M, Forti S, Lancini C, Novara C. Personalized Virtual Reality Compared With Guided Imagery for Enhancing the Impact of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2024; 11:e48649. [PMID: 38289673 PMCID: PMC10871070 DOI: 10.2196/48649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empirical evidence has shown that virtual reality (VR) scenarios can increase the effects of relaxation techniques, reducing anxiety by enabling people to experience emotional conditions in more vivid settings. OBJECTIVE This pilot randomized controlled study aims to investigate whether the progressive muscle relaxation technique (PMRT) associated with a personalized scenario in VR promotes psychological well-being and facilitates the recall of relaxing images more than the standard complementary intervention that involves the integration of PMRT and guided imagery (GI). METHODS On the basis of a longitudinal, between-subject design, 72 university students were randomly exposed to one of two experimental conditions: (1) standard complementary procedure (PMRT and GI exposure) and (2) experimental procedure (PMRT and personalized VR exposure). Individuals were assessed by a therapist before and after 7 training sessions based on measures investigating anxiety, depression, quality of life, coping strategies, sense of presence, engagement, and side effects related to VR exposure. Heart rate data were also collected. RESULTS Differences in changes between the 2 groups after the in vivo PMRT session conducted by the psychotherapist (T1) were statistically significant for state anxiety (F1,67=30.56; P<.001) and heart rate (F1,67=4.87; P=.01). Individuals in the VR group obtained lower scores both before (t67=-2.63; P=.01; Cohen d=0.91) and after (t67=-7.23; P<.001; Cohen d=2.45) the relaxation session when it was self-administered by participants (T2). A significant reduction in perceived state anxiety at T1 and T2 was observed for both groups (P<.001). After the VR experience, individuals reported feeling higher engagement in the experience than what was mentioned by participants in the GI group (F1,67=2.85; P=.03; ηp2=0.15), and they experienced the environment as more realistic (F1,67=4.38; P=.003; ηp2=0.21). No differences between groups regarding sense of presence were found (F1,67=1.99; P=.11; ηp2=0.11). Individuals exposed before to the VR scenario (T1) referred to perceiving the scenario recalled in-imagination at T2 as more realistic than what those in the GI group experienced (F1,67=3.21; P=.02; ηp2=0.12). The VR group had lower trait anxiety levels than the GI group after the relaxation session during session 7 (T2; t67=-2.43; P=.02). CONCLUSIONS Personalized relaxing VR scenarios can contribute to improving relaxation and decreasing anxiety when integrated with PMRT as a complementary relaxation method. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05478941; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05478941. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/44183.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Pardini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Digital Health Research, Centre for Digital Health and Wellbeing, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
- Human Inspired Technology Research Centre (HIT), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Gabrielli
- Digital Health Research, Centre for Digital Health and Wellbeing, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvia Olivetto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Fusina
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Dianti
- Digital Health Research, Centre for Digital Health and Wellbeing, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Stefano Forti
- Centre for Digital Health and Wellbeing, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Cristina Lancini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Novara
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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18
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Clemente D, Romano L, Zamboni E, Carrus G, Panno A. Forest therapy using virtual reality in the older population: a systematic review. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1323758. [PMID: 38298360 PMCID: PMC10828037 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1323758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction As life expectancy increases, more attention needs to be paid to their mental and physical condition. Many older patients are also bedridden, which makes some treatments, like in vivo exposure to natural environments, more difficult to be applied. This study aimed to systematically review articles that include interventions combining virtual reality and forest environment, targeting a sample of older people. Methods Based on PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search in three databases (EBSCO, PubMed, and Scopus), plus gray literature (OpenGrey). We considered only studies that used forest settings via virtual reality and included a sample with age ≥ 65. Results After the screening and eligibility stages, 7 articles have been included. Discussion The study underlines the need to implement research in this direction to standardize effective procedures that can be used to improve the mental and physical health of the older people and caregivers, while also reducing social costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Clemente
- Experimental and Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Romano
- Experimental and Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Zamboni
- Experimental and Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrus
- Department of Education Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Angelo Panno
- Experimental and Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Bolouki A. The impact of virtual reality natural and built environments on affective responses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:73-89. [PMID: 36201684 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2130881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the extent to which virtual reality (VR) natural and built settings affect emotional states. Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed were searched for relevant articles prior to February 2022. Of 15 articles identified for systematic review, 6 met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis (studies with only pre- and post-condition measures of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were included). Both positive affect (g = 0.20, p = 0.001) and negative affect (g = - 0.30, p = 0.001) change scores for the VR natural environment were statistically significant. On the other hand, change scores for VR built environment were not significant in both positive affect (g = - 0.08, p = 0.355) and negative affect (g = - 0.08, p = 0.058). The findings revealed that, in addition to a VR natural environment, a VR built environment is capable of providing restorative experiences against negative mood in some circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Bolouki
- Master of urban design, Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Addas A. Telepresence robots as facilitators of physical exercise during COVID-19: a feasibility and acceptance study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1277479. [PMID: 38222084 PMCID: PMC10787647 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1277479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on mobility and access to green space have disrupted exercise habits worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.4 billion adults were insufficiently physically active in 2016, with detrimental impacts on health. The proposed study investigated the use of telepresence-robot-based personal trainers to facilitate remote exercise during the pandemic-related lockdowns. Several adults aged 18-65 were recruited for a four-week intervention and thorough research investigation. The intervention involved one-hour outdoor exercise sessions held three times per week in a local park with a human instructor connected via a telepresence robot. Surveys assessed perceptions of social presence, usability, the intention to use the robot and the psychological benefits of access to green space. System logs tracked participation and technical errors. At baseline, 30% of the participants met the WHO physical activity (PA) recommendations, compared to 80% after the intervention. The study shows significant increases in many parameters. These are perceived in social presence (p < 0.021), usability (p < 0.04), intentions for long-term use (p < 0.05), and the mental health benefits of accessing green spaces (p < 0.013). Attendance was found to be 90%, with a 7% technical failure rate. This investigation demonstrates the promise of telepresence robots for safely providing remote access to green spaces. They can be used to facilitate exercise during public health crises, overcoming the barriers to maintaining PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Addas
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
- Landscape Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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21
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Ilioudi M, Wallström S, Steingrimsson S, Lindner P, Thunström AO, Ali L. Patient experience of a virtual reality calm room in a psychiatric inpatient care setting in Sweden: a qualitative study with inpatients. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e076285. [PMID: 38101823 PMCID: PMC10729110 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Calm rooms have been developed and implemented in psychiatric inpatient care settings to offer patients a dedicated space for relaxation in a convenient and safe environment. Recent technology developments have enabled virtual reality (VR) equivalents of calm rooms that can be feasibly deployed in psychiatric care settings. While research has shown VR environments to be efficacious in inducing relaxation, little is known how these virtual calm rooms are perceived by patients. The aim of this study was to elucidate patient experiences of using a VR calm room in a psychiatric inpatient setting. DESIGN Qualitative interview study. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using qualitive inductive content analysis, which focuses on the interpretation of texts for making replicable and valid inferences. SETTING Swedish hospital psychiatric inpatient care setting with a wireless, three degrees-of-freedom VR head-mounted display running a calm room application simulating nature environment. PARTICIPANTS 20 adult patients (12 women) with bipolar disorder (n=18) or unipolar depression (n=2). RESULTS Participants experienced the use of the VR calm room as having a positive impact on them, inducing awareness, calmness and well-being. They were thankful to be offered a non-pharmacological alternative for anxiety relief. Participants also expressed that they had some concerns about how they would react emotionally before using the VR device. However, after use, they highlighted that their overall experience was positive. They also expressed that they could see potential for further development of VR technology in psychiatric care. CONCLUSIONS VR technology has the potential to solve pressing logistic issues in offering calm rooms in psychiatric inpatient care. VR calm rooms appear to be appreciated by psychiatric inpatients, who value their accessibility, convenience and variety of modalities offered. Participants perceived an increase in their well-being after use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ilioudi
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Goteborg, Sweden
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gotheborg, Sweden
| | - Sara Wallström
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Goteborg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health (CELAM), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Steinn Steingrimsson
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Goteborg, Sweden
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Philip Lindner
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Almira Osmanovic Thunström
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Lilas Ali
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Goteborg, Sweden
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gotheborg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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22
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Reale G, Fusco A, Calciano R, Vallario N, Vagnarelli G, Caliandro P, Castelli L, Moci M, Tieri G, Iasevoli L, Padua L. The Immediate Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness after Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7639. [PMID: 38137708 PMCID: PMC10744216 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Disorders of Consciousness (DoCs) after severe acquired brain injury involve substantial impairment of cognition and physical functioning, requiring comprehensive rehabilitation and support. Technological interventions, such as immersive Virtual Reality (VR), have shown promising results in promoting neural activity and enhancing cognitive and motor recovery. VR can induce physical sensations that may activate the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and induce ANS-regulated responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of immersive VR on the ANS in patients with DoCs through the analysis of the electrodermal activity (EDA). EDA was measured with a wearable device during a single immersive VR session consisting of static and dynamic videos depicting naturalistic environments. A pilot case-control study was conducted with 12 healthy participants and 12 individuals with DoCs. Results showed higher EDA values in patients than in healthy participants (p = 0.035), suggesting stronger autonomic activation during immersive VR exposure, while healthy subjects, in turn, showed a decrease in EDA values. Our results revealed a significant interaction between conditions and groups (p = 0.003), with patients showing significantly increased EDA values from the baseline compared to dynamic video observation (p = 0.014) and final rest (p = 0.007). These results suggest that immersive VR can elicit sympathetic arousal in patients with DoCs. This study highlights the potential of immersive VR as a tool to strengthen autonomic responses in patients with impaired consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Reale
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Augusto Fusco
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Rossella Calciano
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Noemi Vallario
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Vagnarelli
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Caliandro
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Letizia Castelli
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Marco Moci
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Gaetano Tieri
- Virtual Reality and Digital Neuroscience Lab, Department of Law and Digital Society, University of Rome Unitelma Sapienza, Piazza Sassari, 4, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Iasevoli
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Padua
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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White MP, Hartig T, Martin L, Pahl S, van den Berg AE, Wells NM, Costongs C, Dzhambov AM, Elliott LR, Godfrey A, Hartl A, Konijnendijk C, Litt JS, Lovell R, Lymeus F, O'Driscoll C, Pichler C, Pouso S, Razani N, Secco L, Steininger MO, Stigsdotter UK, Uyarra M, van den Bosch M. Nature-based biopsychosocial resilience: An integrative theoretical framework for research on nature and health. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 181:108234. [PMID: 37832260 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Nature-based solutions including urban forests and wetlands can help communities cope better with climate change and other environmental stressors by enhancing social-ecological resilience. Natural ecosystems, settings, elements and affordances can also help individuals become more personally resilient to a variety of stressors, although the mechanisms underpinning individual-level nature-based resilience, and their relations to social-ecological resilience, are not well articulated. We propose 'nature-based biopsychosocial resilience theory' (NBRT) to address these gaps. Our framework begins by suggesting that individual-level resilience can refer to both: a) a person's set of adaptive resources; and b) the processes by which these resources are deployed. Drawing on existing nature-health perspectives, we argue that nature contact can support individuals build and maintain biological, psychological, and social (i.e. biopsychosocial) resilience-related resources. Together with nature-based social-ecological resilience, these biopsychosocial resilience resources can: i) reduce the risk of various stressors (preventive resilience); ii) enhance adaptive reactions to stressful circumstances (response resilience), and/or iii) facilitate more rapid and/or complete recovery from stress (recovery resilience). Reference to these three resilience processes supports integration across more familiar pathways involving harm reduction, capacity building, and restoration. Evidence in support of the theory, potential interventions to promote nature-based biopsychosocial resilience, and issues that require further consideration are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew P White
- Cognitive Science HUB, University of Vienna, Austria; European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK.
| | - Terry Hartig
- Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Sweden; Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Leanne Martin
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Sabine Pahl
- Urban and Environmental Psychology Group, University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Nancy M Wells
- Department of Human Centered Design, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | | | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | | | - Arnulf Hartl
- Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Jill S Litt
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Ciber on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rebecca Lovell
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Freddie Lymeus
- Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Sweden; Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | | | - Christina Pichler
- Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sarai Pouso
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, 20110 Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Nooshin Razani
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Laura Secco
- Department of Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TESAF), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Ulrika K Stigsdotter
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Uyarra
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, 20110 Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Ciber on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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24
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Naef AC, Gerber SM, Single M, Müri RM, Haenggi M, Jakob SM, Jeitziner MM, Nef T. Effects of immersive virtual reality on sensory overload in a random sample of critically ill patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1268659. [PMID: 37859854 PMCID: PMC10582722 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1268659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sensory overload and sensory deprivation have both been associated with negative health outcomes in critically ill patients. While there is a lack of any clear treatment or prevention strategies, immersive virtual reality is a promising tool for addressing such problems, but which has not been repetitively tested in random samples. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how critically ill patients react to repeated sessions of immersive virtual reality. Methods This exploratory study was conducted in the mixed medical-surgical intermediate care unit of the University Hospital of Bern (Inselspital). Participants (N = 45; 20 women, 25 men; age = 57.73 ± 15.92 years) received two immersive virtual reality sessions via a head-mounted display and noise-canceling headphones within 24 h during their stay in the unit. Each session lasted 30-min and showed a 360-degree nature landscape. Physiological data were collected as part of the participants' standard care, while environmental awareness, cybersickness, and general acceptance were assessed using a questionnaire designed by our team (1 = not at all, 10 = extremely). Results During both virtual reality sessions, there was a significant negative linear relationship found between the heart rate and stimulation duration [first session: r(43) = -0.78, p < 0.001; second session: r(38) = -0.81, p < 0.001] and between the blood pressure and stimulation duration [first session: r(39) = -0.78, p < 0.001; second session: r(30) = -0.78, p < 0.001]. The participants had a high comfort score [median (interquartile range {IQR}) = 8 (7, 10); mean = 8.06 ± 2.31], did not report being unwell [median (IQR) = 1 (1, 1); mean = 1.11 ± 0.62], and were not aware of their real-world surroundings [median (IQR) = 1 (1, 5); mean = 2.99 ± 3.22]. Conclusion The subjectively reported decrease in environmental awareness as well as the decrease in the heart rate and blood pressure over time highlights the ability of immersive virtual reality to help critically ill patients overcome sensory overload and sensory deprivation. Immersive virtual reality can successfully and repetitively be provided to a randomly selected sample of critically ill patients over a prolonged duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen C. Naef
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center For Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan M. Gerber
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center For Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Single
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center For Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - René M. Müri
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center For Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Haenggi
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan M. Jakob
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Madlen Jeitziner
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health (DPH), Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Nursing Science (INS), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Nef
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center For Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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25
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Naef AC, Jeitziner MM, Jakob SM, Müri RM, Nef T. Creating Custom Immersive 360-Degree Videos for Use in Clinical and Nonclinical Settings: Tutorial. JMIR MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 9:e42154. [PMID: 37707883 PMCID: PMC10540026 DOI: 10.2196/42154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of virtual reality (VR) stimulation in clinical settings has increased in recent years. In particular, there has been increasing interest in the use of VR stimulation for a variety of purposes, including medical training, pain therapy, and relaxation. Unfortunately, there is still a limited amount of real-world 360-degree content that is both available and suitable for these applications. Therefore, this tutorial paper describes a pipeline for the creation of custom VR content. It covers the planning and designing of content; the selection of appropriate equipment; the creation and processing of footage; and the deployment, visualization, and evaluation of the VR experience. This paper aims to provide a set of guidelines, based on first-hand experience, that readers can use to help create their own 360-degree videos. By discussing and elaborating upon the challenges associated with making 360-degree content, this tutorial can help researchers and health care professionals anticipate and avoid common pitfalls during their own content creation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen C Naef
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Madlen Jeitziner
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Nursing Science, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephan M Jakob
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - René M Müri
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Nef
- Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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26
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Petitt E, Rolander B, Johnsson P. Medical Nature-Based Rehabilitation Program for Individuals with Exhaustion Syndrome: Changes in Quality of Life, Exhaustion Symptoms and Overall Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6677. [PMID: 37681817 PMCID: PMC10487912 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Stress-related health problems have increased sharply over the last two decades and have become a serious issue at all levels of society. In the Jönköping Region in southern Sweden, a nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) program for adults with Exhaustion Syndrome has been developed and then implemented into the Swedish National Healthcare System. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this NBR-program. This was achieved by examining patients' quality of life, exhaustion symptoms and overall health using self-assessment instruments, comparing the results before participation to immediately after, three months after and six months after. With a sample size of 67 participants, the results show a statistically significant improvement for all points. From a public health perspective, and with background knowledge of the nature of the patient group under treatment, the studied program would appear to be effective and economic, having a satisfied patient group as well as a favourable comparison with the outcomes of other research programs. Although the results are promising, as this is a naturalistic field study, there is no control group, and further research is encouraged. We suggest randomised controlled studies, longitudinal studies and investigation of mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Petitt
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Rolander
- Futurum—The Academy for Health and Care, Region Jönköping, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Per Johnsson
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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27
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Leão ER, Hingst-Zaher E, Savieto RM, Patricio KP, de Oliveira LB, Catissi G, Lima LM, Borba GB, Bomfim SB, de Abreu FB. A time with e-Natureza (e-Nature): a model of nature-based health interventions as a complex adaptive system. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1226197. [PMID: 37674757 PMCID: PMC10478274 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1226197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Discussions surrounding the positive impacts of nature on human health and strategies to enhance our connection with the natural world have been ongoing. However, a limited number of theoretical models are available to guide research and practice in this area. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a systematic framework that outlines clear steps for conducting research implementing nature-based interventions. In this study, we investigate the relationship between health and nature through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems. This approach involves examining the dynamic interactions between multiple interconnected elements to understand the complex emergent behaviors that arise from such relationships. Our model is designed to support nature-based interventions, considering the essential interdependence between humans and nature. This perspective aims to improve both human health and biodiversity conservation in a mutually beneficial manner. The underlying interactions that drive nature-based health interventions are thoroughly explored, leading us to propose a novel intervention model named "A time with e-Natureza" (e-Nature). This model encompasses four types of experiences, drawing from scientific literature and insights from authors engaged in an interdisciplinary research group: (1) Aesthetic and emotional experience; (2) Multisensory integration experience; (3) Knowledge experience; and (4) Engagement experience. Each experience within the model targets affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects, with a specific focus on fostering a deeper connection with nature. Distinct activities are incorporated within each experience to promote successful outcomes. The model is grounded in existing theories that address the human-nature relationship and is informed by Nursing theories that support health promotion interventions. By presenting this new model, our aim is to contribute to the effective implementation of nature-based interventions that not only enhance human well-being but also support the conservation of nature. This integrated approach recognizes the mutual benefits of human-nature interaction and offers valuable insights for future research and practical applications in the fields of nature and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliseth Ribeiro Leão
- Albert Einstein Education and Research Center, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Roberta Maria Savieto
- Albert Einstein Education and Research Center, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Giulia Catissi
- Albert Einstein Israelita Faculty of Health Sciences, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Benvenutti Borba
- Department of Electronics, Graduate School on Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of Technology–Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Bortolossi Bomfim
- Albert Einstein Education and Research Center, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
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28
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Zeng C, Lin W, Chen Q. Psychophysiological Responses of College Students to Audio-Visual Forest Trail Landscapes. J Urban Health 2023; 100:711-724. [PMID: 37495939 PMCID: PMC10447697 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-023-00757-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Forest trails provide urban residents with contact with nature that improves health and well-being. Vision and hearing are important forms of environmental perception, and visual and auditory stimuli should not be overlooked in forest trail landscapes. This study focused on the health benefits of the audio-visual perception of forest trail landscapes. Forest density (FD) and forest sounds (FS) in forest trail landscapes were examined as visual and auditory variables, respectively. FD was divided into three levels: high (Hd), medium (Md), and low density (Ld). FS were divided into four levels: quiet natural and anthropogenic sounds (QnQa), quiet natural and loud anthropogenic sounds (QnLa), loud natural and quiet anthropogenic sounds (LnQa), and loud natural and loud anthropogenic sounds (LnLa). The levels of these two variables were combined to create 12 conditions. A total of 360 college students were randomly assigned to 12 groups (mapping onto the 12 conditions; N=30 per group). All subjects performed the same 5-min high-pressure task indoors, followed by a 5-min recovery period of experiencing a simulated forest trail landscape (viewing pictures and listening to sounds). Brain waves, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2, measured with a finger monitor), the pulse rate, and mood indicators were collected to analyse the physiological and psychological responses to the audio-visual forest trail landscapes. The results indicated that higher FD and lower FS improved health benefits. The interaction between FD and FS revealed a pattern of combinations that facilitated stress reduction and positive mood recovery. These results are of theoretical value in that they indicate important audio-visual characteristics of forest trail landscapes. In terms of practical applications, these findings support the construction of urban forest trails to provide health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Zeng
- College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300 China
| | - Wei Lin
- College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300 China
| | - Qibing Chen
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130 Sichuan China
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29
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Mostajeran F, Steinicke F, Reinhart S, Stuerzlinger W, Riecke BE, Kühn S. Adding virtual plants leads to higher cognitive performance and psychological well-being in virtual reality. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8053. [PMID: 37198210 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34718-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown the positive effects of exposure to real and virtual nature. To investigate how such benefits might generalize to ever-more-prevalent virtual workplaces, we examined the effects of the absence or presence of virtual plants in an office environment in Virtual Reality (VR) on users' cognitive performance and psychological well-being. The results of our user study with 39 participants show that in the presence of virtual plants, participants performed significantly better in both short-term memory and creativity tasks. Furthermore, they reported higher psychological well-being scores, including positive affect and attentive coping, whilst reporting lower feelings of anger and aggression after exposure to virtual plants in VR. The virtual office with plants was also perceived as more restorative and induced a higher sense of presence. Overall, these results highlight how the presence of virtual plants in VR can have positive influences on users, and therefore, constitute important design considerations when developing future working and learning spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariba Mostajeran
- Human-Computer Interaction Group, Department of Informatics, Universitāt Hamburg, 22527, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Frank Steinicke
- Human-Computer Interaction Group, Department of Informatics, Universitāt Hamburg, 22527, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Reinhart
- Human-Computer Interaction Group, Department of Informatics, Universitāt Hamburg, 22527, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Stuerzlinger
- VVISE Lab, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada
| | - Bernhard E Riecke
- iSpace Lab, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada
| | - Simone Kühn
- Neural Plasticity Group, Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck-UCL Center for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, 14159, Berlin, Germany
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30
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Suseno B, Hastjarjo TD. The effect of simulated natural environments in virtual reality and 2D video to reduce stress. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1016652. [PMID: 37251017 PMCID: PMC10214952 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1016652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a common problem associated with poor physical and psychological health. Exposure to the natural environment is one method for reducing stress. The real and simulated natural environments have a restorative effect on stress reduction. In contrast to the real environment, simulated natural environments, such as virtual reality and 2D video, provide safer and more controllable exposure. Several studies on the restorative effects of the natural environment in virtual reality and 2D video have been conducted. However, the difference between the two in reducing stress must be clarified. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the simulated natural environments in virtual reality and 2D video and their differences in reducing stress. This study hypothesizes that both simulated natural environments in virtual reality and 2D video can reduce stress, but there is a difference between them in reducing stress. Fifty-three subjects were divided into two experimental groups: 2D video (n = 28) and virtual reality (n = 25). The results indicated that simulated natural environments in virtual reality and 2D video reduced stress. However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding stress reduction.
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31
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Kosonogov VV, Efimov KV, Rakhmankulova ZK, Zyabreva IA. Review of Psychophysiological and Psychotherapeutic Studies of Stress Using Virtual Reality Technologies. NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 53:81-91. [PMID: 36969359 PMCID: PMC10006560 DOI: 10.1007/s11055-023-01393-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
This review addresses the use of virtual reality technologies in the psychophysiology and psychotherapy of stress. Studies using virtual reality both to introduce subjects into a state of stress and to help reduce stress reactions are reviewed. Methods developed for treating patients suffering from stress-related disorders (in particular, PTSD and phobias) are described. In many cases, reductions in stress reactions with the help of virtual reality systems are achieved not only at the self-report (experiential) level, but also at the level of central and peripheral nervous system measures. This allows virtual reality to be regarded as a modern, inexpensive, and effective method, firstly, for introducing subjects into a state of stress with the aim of testing various hypotheses in psychophysiology and, secondly, to reduce stress reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. V. Kosonogov
- Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - K. V. Efimov
- Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - I. A. Zyabreva
- Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
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32
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Witten E, Ryynanen J, Wisdom S, Tipp C, Chan SWY. Effects of soothing images and soothing sounds on mood and well-being. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:158-179. [PMID: 36342851 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mental health problems are increasing at an alarming rate, calling for the need for more cost-effective and easily accessible interventions. Visual images and sounds depicting nature have been found to have positive effects on individuals' mood and well-being; however, the combined effects of images and sounds have been scarcely investigated. This study therefore aimed to compare the mood effects of viewing nature-related soothing images versus listening to soothing sounds versus a combination of both. METHODS In this study, 149 participants aged 18-83 years old (M = 35.88, SD = 15.63; 72.5% female, male 26.8%, .7% transgender) were randomised into three intervention conditions: images only, sounds only or combined (images and sounds). Baseline depressive and anxiety symptoms were indexed, and four outcome variables (positive affect, negative affect, serenity affect and depressive mood states) were measured pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS Findings showed that all participants, regardless of group, reported a decrease in negative affect, positive affect and depressive mood as well as an increase in serenity affect (including feelings of soothe). However, there were no group differences. Exploratory analyses found that individuals with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms at baseline experienced greater reduction in negative affect and depressive mood state, as well as a larger increase in serenity affect. CONCLUSIONS These findings therefore provide preliminary evidence that, upon further research and development, images and sounds depicting nature can potentially be developed for use as an effective tool to improve mood and well-being.
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Digitally enhancing tasting experiences. Int J Gastron Food Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Ch NAN, Ansah AA, Katrahmani A, Burmeister J, Kun AL, Mills C, Shaer O, Lee JD. Virtual nature experiences and mindfulness practices while working from home during COVID-19: Effects on stress, focus, and creativity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER STUDIES 2023; 171:102982. [PMID: 36536937 PMCID: PMC9753486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we focus on the impact of daily virtual nature experiences combined with mindfulness practices on remote workers' creativity, stress, and focus over an extended period (9 weeks) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show a positive effect of virtual reality (VR) nature experience on increasing focus and reducing stress. When VR nature and mindfulness practices were combined, we also found an increase in convergent thinking task performance. Our findings demonstrate that 10-minute daily exposure to VR nature and mindfulness practices could compensate for some of the adverse effects of working remotely by improving some aspects of workers' well-being and creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil Al Nahin Ch
- University of New Hampshire, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 105 Main Street, Durham, 03824, NH, USA
| | - Alberta A Ansah
- University of New Hampshire, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 105 Main Street, Durham, 03824, NH, USA
| | - Atefeh Katrahmani
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Industrial and Systems Engineering, 702 West Johnson Street, Madison, 53715, WI, USA
| | - Julia Burmeister
- Wellesley College, Computer Science, 106 Central St, Wellesley, 02481, MA, USA
| | - Andrew L Kun
- University of New Hampshire, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 105 Main Street, Durham, 03824, NH, USA
| | - Caitlin Mills
- University of New Hampshire, College of Liberal Arts, 105 Main Street, Durham, 03824, NH, USA
| | - Orit Shaer
- Wellesley College, Computer Science, 106 Central St, Wellesley, 02481, MA, USA
| | - John D Lee
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Industrial and Systems Engineering, 702 West Johnson Street, Madison, 53715, WI, USA
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Exploring associations of older adults with virtual nature: a randomised factorial online survey. AGEING & SOCIETY 2023. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x23000090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Loneliness and social isolation are important social determinants of wellbeing of older adults. Conversational exchanges can promote connectedness between older adults, however, conversations may not always come easy. Research shows that exposure to nature-based stimuli such as pictures and videos can stimulate social aspirations and trigger associations that could facilitate conversations, in particular when nature scenery is perceived as fascinating, mysterious, spacious and suited for social interaction. Therefore, this study investigated whether exposure to these nature characteristics (high versus low) lead to associations that could act as conversational material. A randomised factorial design, using a virtual reality-based approach for experimental control, led to 17 different virtual representations of nature (VN). In total, 150 participants (60 years and older) were recruited for an online survey. Spontaneous associations were coded on personal engagement and valence. The number of associations was measured with one multiple-choice question. VN exposure successfully triggered personally engaging and positively valenced associations and were related to multiple associations, in particular when the VN were high on mystery. Furthermore, positive effects of VN exposure was more pronounced for participants with high (rather than low) levels of nature relatedness and many (rather than few) available nature opportunities. These findings indicate that VN exposure provides fertile ground for conversations as a means to promote connectedness and social wellbeing of older adults.
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36
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Negative emotion recognition using multimodal physiological signals for advanced driver assistance systems. ARTIFICIAL LIFE AND ROBOTICS 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10015-023-00858-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
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Chen R, Gao Y, Zhang R, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Meng H, Zhang T. How Does the Experience of Forest Recreation Spaces in Different Seasons Affect the Physical and Mental Recovery of Users? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2357. [PMID: 36767723 PMCID: PMC9915722 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the recovery effect of the forest environment on physical and mental health. Therefore, providing users with a high-quality forest landscape space is a very important research topic for forest landscape designers and forest resource managers. MAIN PURPOSE From the perspective of different seasons, this study explores the differences in landscape perceptions and physical and mental recovery of users when they experience different forest recreation spaces and the interactions between them. METHODS First, this study used virtual reality video experience and questionnaires for participants. Then, the paired-samples t test, one-way ANOVA and the independent-samples t test were used for statistical analysis. Finally, we also used structural equation models to analyze the relationship between landscape perception and recovery. MAIN RESULTS (1) The restoration effect and perception of forest recreation spaces on people are influenced by space types and seasonal factors. (2) People's restoration from forest environments is a gradual process from spatial cognition to emotional response. (3) The perception of the natural attributes and form of the recreation space plays a key role in the restorative effect of the environment to people, while the natural form is more important in spring than autumn. Based on the above conclusions, we suggest that the characteristic factors of the landscape environment and their different restoration effects for users in different dimensions should be considered when planning forest recreation space.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tong Zhang
- Landscape Planning Laboratory, Shenyang Agricultural University, No. 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110161, China
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Browning MHEM, Shin S, Drong G, McAnirlin O, Gagnon RJ, Ranganathan S, Sindelar K, Hoptman D, Bratman GN, Yuan S, Prabhu VG, Heller W. Daily exposure to virtual nature reduces symptoms of anxiety in college students. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1239. [PMID: 36690698 PMCID: PMC9868517 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to natural environments offers an array of mental health benefits. Virtual reality provides simulated experiences of being in nature when outdoor access is limited. Previous studies on virtual nature have focused mainly on single "doses" of virtual nature. The effects of repeated exposure remain poorly understood. Motivated by this gap, we studied the influence of a daily virtual nature intervention on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and an underlying cause of poor mental health: rumination. Forty college students (58% non-Hispanic White, median age = 19) were recruited from two U.S. universities and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Over several weeks, anxious arousal (panic) and anxious apprehension (worry) decreased with virtual nature exposure. Participants identifying as women, past VR users, experienced with the outdoors, and engaged with the beauty in nature benefited particularly strongly from virtual nature. Virtual nature did not help symptoms of anhedonic depression or rumination. Further research is necessary to distinguish when and for whom virtual nature interventions impact mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew H E M Browning
- Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Seunguk Shin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Gabrielle Drong
- College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Olivia McAnirlin
- Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Ryan J Gagnon
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Shyam Ranganathan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | | | | | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Vishnunarayan Girishan Prabhu
- Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Wendy Heller
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Lau SSS, Leung SSK, Wong JWC, Lee TCP, Cartwright SR, Wong JTC, Man J, Cheung E, Choi RPW. Brief repeated virtual nature contact for three weeks boosts university students' nature connectedness and psychological and physiological health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1057020. [PMID: 36711407 PMCID: PMC9878182 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1057020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated uncertainties and restrictions have adverse impacts on university students' mental wellbeing. Evidence shows that virtual nature contact has mental health benefits. However, little is known about the potential beneficial health impacts of virtual nature contact during times of social distancing, when access to the natural environment is restricted. This pilot study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 3-week virtual nature contact in improving nature connectedness and reducing psychophysiological stress. A sample of 56 university students in Hong Kong was randomly assigned to control and nature interventions using 2-D video played for 15 min three times a week for 3 weeks. Nature connectedness, perceived restorativeness and psycho-physiological wellbeing were measured. Our findings show significant changes in psychological stress levels after nature interventions compared with the baseline, including increased happiness and stronger emotions of comfort and relaxation. When compared with the control group, the results show the nature intervention group has significantly higher levels of nature connectedness, happiness, and positive affect, but no significant effects on other psychological and physiological variables (e.g., cardiovascular responses). Our preliminary findings highlight the potential use of virtual nature contacts in bolstering university students' wellbeing at times of pandemic or when in-person visit to the natural environment is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam S. S. Lau
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Institute of Bioresources and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,*Correspondence: Sam S. S. Lau ✉
| | - Sharron S. K. Leung
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Division of Nursing Education, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jonathan W. C. Wong
- Institute of Bioresources and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Terence C. P. Lee
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephen R. Cartwright
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Janet T. C. Wong
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jackie Man
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ethan Cheung
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China,Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Regene P. W. Choi
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Li H, Ding Y, Zhao B, Xu Y, Wei W. Effects of immersion in a simulated natural environment on stress reduction and emotional arousal: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1058177. [PMID: 36698558 PMCID: PMC9869155 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1058177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although the mental health benefits of exposure to simulated natural environments are well established by researchers from environmental psychology, landscape architecture, and public health, it is unclear whether and to what extent technological immersion affects these benefits. Methods Systematical literature searches were conducted in May 2022 from six databases. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool. We performed a random-effects meta-regression to investigate the heterogeneity. The immersion levels of included studies were classified by projection devices and motion capture, and then subgroup analysis was conducted. Results Twenty-six publications were included. Exposure to simulated nature was confirmed to be associated with increased positive affect 0.40 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 0.58], vigor 0.58 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.86), calmness 0.54 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.92) and decreased perceived stress -0.38 (95% CI: -0.71, -0.06), total mood disturbance -0.87 (95% CI: -1.17, -0.57), tension -0.70 (95% CI: -0.99, -0.41), fatigue -0.60 (95% CI: -0.91, -0.28), anxiety -0.72 (95% CI: -1.43, -0.02), depression -0.33 (95% CI: -0.52, -0.14), confusion -0.79 (95% CI: -1.19, -0.40), and anger -0.54 (95% CI: -0.76, -0.31). Gender, health status, study design, mean age, and single exposure duration were not significant when entered in a meta-regression. For positive affect, medium immersion was observed to produce a larger effect than low and high immersion. All included studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusion Audio-visual exposure to simulated nature contributes to stress relief and emotional arousal. The immersion level explains the heterogeneity of positive affect triggered by simulated nature. Focusing on the technical features will open up new possibilities for combining actual and simulated nature's mental health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyi Li
- The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yujun Ding
- The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuhang Xu
- The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wei
- The College of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Wei Wei, ✉
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Sun C, Meng Q, Yang D, Wu Y. Soundwalk path affecting soundscape assessment in urban parks. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1096952. [PMID: 36698590 PMCID: PMC9869071 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1096952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous soundscape studies focused on sound perception and acoustic comfort in sampled sites and ignored the characteristics of the experiential process along the paths. Therefore, the effects of soundwalk paths on soundscape assessment should be explored. Methods In this study, a typical urban park was selected as a case study. The differences, characteristics, and effects of soundwalk paths on the soundscapes were explored, based on a soundwalk survey and laboratory study. Results The results are as follows: first, in the soundwalk, different soundwalk paths in the urban park had significant effects on the perceived extent of individual sound and soundscape assessment. Second, the soundscape assessment was consistent with the peak-end rule. In the laboratory experiments, the peak assessment of soundscape appeared at the end location of the soundwalk paths, it was critical to the overall soundscape assessment. Furthermore, in the soundwalk, the overall perceived extent of individual sound was strongly affected by the perceived extent of dominant sounds at the end location of the soundwalk paths. Third, in the soundwalk, the sound loudness contrast path (noise-quiet/quiet-noise) and sound source contrast path (natural-artificial sound/artificial-natural sound) were compared. In the noise-quiet path, the assessment of acoustic comfort was higher than that in the quiet-noise path, and the assessment of subjective loudness was lower than that in the quiet-noise path (p < 0.01). The subjective loudness of the artificial-natural sound path was lower than that in the natural-artificial sound path (p < 0.05). Discussion Thus, the design of the soundwalk paths was expected to enhance visitors' soundscape assessment of urban parks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China,School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Qi Meng
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China,School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Qi Meng, ✉
| | - Da Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China,School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China,Da Yang, ✉
| | - Yue Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China,School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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Effects of exposure to immersive computer-generated virtual nature and control environments on affect and cognition. Sci Rep 2023; 13:220. [PMID: 36604527 PMCID: PMC9815073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26750-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that exposure to immersive virtual nature environments is able to induce positive affective and physiological effects. However, research on the effects on cognitive performance is scarce. Additionally, the effects of virtual nature exposure compared to a virtual control environment with a comparable amount of virtual objects have not been examined so far. Therefore, we conducted an experiment with 27 participants to study the psychological effects of such exposure. The virtual nature consisted of a 3D model of a typical forest environment, whereas the control environment was an abstract replication of the virtual forest environment. In both environments, a virtual wooden cart was used to transport the users from the start to the end of the virtual road. The typical background noise of moving such a cart was integrated into both environments as well. In addition, the virtual nature environment included typical forest sounds in the background, whereas the control condition did not have such background sounds. Both environments were compared with regard to their effects on cognitive performance (using trail making tests (TMTA, TMTB, and TMTB-A) as well as digit span forward and digit span backward tests), perceived restorativeness, mood, stress, sense of presence, and simulator sickness. The results showed that in comparison to the control environment, exposure to the virtual nature resulted in significantly higher cognitive performance, higher perceived restorativeness, higher positive affect, higher sense of presence, lower perceived stress, and lower simulator sickness.
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Sun Y, Li F, He T, Meng Y, Yin J, Yim IS, Xu L, Wu J. Physiological and affective responses to green space virtual reality among pregnant women. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114499. [PMID: 36208780 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benefits of green spaces on stress reduction have been shown in previous studies. Most existing studies to date have focused on the general population. However, there is a lack of understanding of physiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of green space among special populations, such as pregnant women. OBJECTIVES To examine physiological and affective responses to green space on stress recovery among pregnant women, using simulated green space exposure through virtual reality (VR). METHODS We recruited 63 pregnant women between 8 and 14 weeks' gestational age for a laboratory experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to view one of three, 5-min, VR videos of an urban scene with different green space levels (i.e., non-green, moderate, and high) after a laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test. Physiological stress responses were measured via changes in blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance level, salivary alpha-amylase, and salivary cortisol. Affective response was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. RESULTS We found that visual exposure to a green space environment in VR was associated with both physiological and affective stress reduction among pregnant women, including lower systolic blood pressure [-4.6 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -8.8, -0.4], reduced salivary alpha-amylase concentration (-1.2 ng/ml, 95% CI: -2.2, -0.2), improved overall positive affect (score: 6.6, 95% CI: 0.3, 13.0) and decreased negative affect of anxiety (score: -2.6, 95% CI: -5.19, -0.04) compared to non-green space environment. Exposure to high green space environment in park-like setting had the strongest impacts on stress recovery. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that virtual green space exposure could effectively ease stress and improve mental health and well-being during pregnancy. Even a short immersion in VR-based green space environment may bring health benefits, which has significant implications for pregnant women when access to an actual nature may not be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute of Medical Information, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Fu Li
- College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao He
- Program in Public Health Policy, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yaohan Meng
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yin
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ilona S Yim
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Liyan Xu
- College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Mubareka S, Amuasi J, Banerjee A, Carabin H, Copper Jack J, Jardine C, Jaroszewicz B, Keefe G, Kotwa J, Kutz S, McGregor D, Mease A, Nicholson L, Nowak K, Pickering B, Reed MG, Saint-Charles J, Simonienko K, Smith T, Scott Weese J, Jane Parmley E. Strengthening a One Health approach to emerging zoonoses. Facets (Ott) 2023. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the enormous global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada, and manifold other zoonotic pathogen activity, there is a pressing need for a deeper understanding of the human-animal-environment interface and the intersecting biological, ecological, and societal factors contributing to the emergence, spread, and impact of zoonotic diseases. We aim to apply a One Health approach to pressing issues related to emerging zoonoses, and propose a functional framework of interconnected but distinct groups of recommendations around strategy and governance, technical leadership (operations), equity, education and research for a One Health approach and Action Plan for Canada. Change is desperately needed, beginning by reorienting our approach to health and recalibrating our perspectives to restore balance with the natural world in a rapid and sustainable fashion. In Canada, a major paradigm shift in how we think about health is required. All of society must recognize the intrinsic value of all living species and the importance of the health of humans, other animals, and ecosystems to health for all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Amuasi
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
| | | | | | - Joe Copper Jack
- Indigenous Knowledge Holder, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
| | | | | | - Greg Keefe
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | | | - Susan Kutz
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Anne Mease
- Selkirk First Nation Citizen, Selkirk First Nation, Yukon Territory, Canada
| | | | | | - Brad Pickering
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Weibel RP, Kerr JI, Naegelin M, Ferrario A, Schinazi VR, La Marca R, Hoelscher C, Nater UM, von Wangenheim F. Virtual reality-supported biofeedback for stress management: Beneficial effects on heart rate variability and user experience. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Huang YC, Li LN, Lee HY, Browning MH, Yu CP. Surfing in virtual reality: An application of extended technology acceptance model with flow theory. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
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McEwan K, Collett H, Nairn J, Bird J, Faghy MA, Pfeifer E, Jackson JE, Cook C, Bond A. The Feasibility and Impact of Practising Online Forest Bathing to Improve Anxiety, Rumination, Social Connection and Long-COVID Symptoms: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14905. [PMID: 36429623 PMCID: PMC9691063 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-COVID affects over 144 million people globally. In the absence of treatments, there is a need to establish the efficacy of therapies that improve patient outcomes. Forest bathing has been demonstrated to improve physical and mental outcomes but there is no evidence in Long-COVID patients. Accordingly, this pilot study sought to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of online forest bathing in adults with Long-COVID. METHODS Feasibility was assessed by monitoring retention rates and participant feedback. In a waitlist controlled, repeated measures design, 22 Long-COVID patients completed weekly online surveys during a four-week waitlist control period, before engaging in four weekly online forest bathing sessions, completing post-intervention surveys following each session. RESULTS In terms of retention, 27% did not provide post-intervention data, reasons for non-adherence were: feeling too ill, having medical appointments, or having career responsibilities. Compared with the waitlist control period, there were statistically significant improvements in Anxiety (49% decrease), Rumination (48% decrease), Social Connection (78% increase), and Long-COVID symptoms (22% decrease). Written qualitative comments indicated that participants experienced feelings of calm and joy, felt more connected socially and with nature, and experienced a break from the pain and rumination surrounding their illness. CONCLUSIONS Online Forest bathing resulted in significant improvements in well-being and symptom severity and could be considered an accessible and inexpensive adjunct therapy for Long-COVID patients. Where people have limited access to in-person nature, virtual nature may offer an alternative to improve health and well-being outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten McEwan
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | | | - Jean Nairn
- Woodlands Breathing, Edinburgh EH27 8BW, UK
| | - Jamie Bird
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | - Mark A. Faghy
- Biomedical Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
- Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL–PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Eric Pfeifer
- Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Karlstr. 63, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jessica E. Jackson
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
| | | | - Amanda Bond
- Wild Edgewalker Forest Therapy, Jersey JE3 8AF, UK
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Yuan S, Tao F, Li Y. The Restorative Effects of Virtual Reality Forests on Elderly Individuals During the COVID-19 Lockdown. J ORGAN END USER COM 2022. [DOI: 10.4018/joeuc.297626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study focuses on the restorative effects of immersive virtual reality (VR) forest experiences on elderly people during the COVID-19 lockdown. A field experiment with 63 elderly participants was conducted in an elderly care institution in China. The results showed that a five-minute VR forest experience with three minutes of subsequent reliving can bring immediate psychological improvements (i.e., increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and enhanced stress recovery) to elderly individuals. The negative affect decrease and stress recovery enhancement were more obvious among introverted individuals. Furthermore, participating in three VR forest experiences over 3 consecutive days can bring continuous psychological improvements. Moreover, short VR forest experiences were unable to significantly decrease the blood pressure of participants. The effects of three VR experiences over 3 days on blood pressure improvement were also nonsignificant. Additionally, VR forest experiences can increase elderly participants’ intentions to undertake real forest therapy.
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Li Z, Huang X, White M. Effects of the Visual Character of Transitional Spaces on Human Stress Recovery in a Virtual Reality Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13143. [PMID: 36293723 PMCID: PMC9602902 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As people's levels of stress increase with the complexity of contemporary urban life, the stress healing agenda in built environments has become more critical than ever. Previous research has demonstrated that linear and nonlinear shapes in the environment have an impact on human stress recovery. However, to date, most studies have focused on indoor and outdoor spaces, while research on transitional spaces is still limited. Transitional spaces connect the interior with the exterior and are ubiquitous in the city, such as plazas, open cafes, and urban corridors. We hypothesize that curved and linear environments affect human stress recovery differently in transitional spaces. To test this hypothesis, virtual reality (VR) technology and experiments were conducted with 40 participants. At the end of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), participants were randomly assigned to four VR environments to test which environment is more effective in stress recovery for humans. Participants' physiological data, including heart rate and blood pressure, were measured by bio-monitoring sensors. The psychological data were tested by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In general, the resulting data indicate that the curved environment is more effective than the linear environment for the recovery of human stress in transitional spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixian Li
- College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Xiaoran Huang
- School of Architecture and Art, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China
- Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Marcus White
- Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
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50
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Investigating the role of auditory and visual sensory inputs for inducing relaxation during virtual reality stimulation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17073. [PMID: 36224289 PMCID: PMC9560033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is a part of everyday life which can be counteracted by evoking the relaxation response via nature scenes presented using immersive virtual reality (VR). The aim of this study was to determine which sensory aspect of immersive VR intervention is responsible for the greatest relaxation response. We compared four conditions: auditory and visual combined (audiovisual), auditory only, visual only, and no artificial sensory input. Physiological changes in heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure were recorded, while participants reported their preferred condition and awareness of people, noise, and light in the real-world. Over the duration of the stimulation, participants had the lowest heart rate during the audiovisual and visual only conditions. They had the steadiest decrease in respiration rate and the lowest blood pressure during the audiovisual condition, compared to the other conditions, indicating the greatest relaxation. Moreover, ratings of awareness indicated that participants reported being less aware of their surroundings (i.e., people, noise, light, real environment) during the audiovisual condition versus the other conditions (p < 0.001), with a preference for audiovisual inputs. Overall, the use of audiovisual VR stimulation is more effective at inducing a relaxation response compared to no artificial sensory inputs, or the independent inputs.
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