University of Twente Student Theses
Virtual-reality technologie als effectief instrument voor stressreductie?
Flockenhaus, E. (2018) Virtual-reality technologie als effectief instrument voor stressreductie?
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| Abstract: | Using Virtual Reality (VR) to induce negative emotions within the exposure therapy is a common approach in clinical psychology. The present study aimed to investigate the effectivity of VR in comparison with an audio guided meditation as a tool to induce positive emotions, relaxation, and to reduce negative emotions, stress. According to the framework of positive technology this study aimed to reduce the increased stress levels of the population. Using a mixed between- and within subjects design a convenience sample of 38 non-clinical participants (24 women, 14 men) with a mean age of M= 30.95 (SD= 14.52) was randomly assigned to an experimental condition and a control condition. Participants in the experimental condition (n= 20) were exposed to an animated VR beach-scenario and received a congruent auditive guided meditation. As one of the first studies in inducing positive emotions with VR, an active control group was conducted, participants in the control group (n= 18) received an audio-only guided imagery. The emotional states, relaxation and stress were measured three times, at the beginning of the study, after a stress inducing task, and after the treatment. Results indicated that the treatment significantly lowered stress and induced relaxation in both conditions. However, the effect of time for relaxation and stress did not significantly varied between the conditions, therethrough an advantage of the VR-treatment towards the audio-only guided imagery could not be proven. Since this study did not conduct a non-treatment control group, interpretations about the effectivity of the guided imagery must be treated with caution. Findings from this study emphasize the importance of the positive psychology in accordance to treat stress. For future research it is recommended to use the methodological limitations from this study as a beginning to optimize VR as a positive technology. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/75208 |
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