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Experimental Psychology (Russia)
2022. Vol. 15, no. 2, 49–58
doi:10.17759/exppsy.2022150204
ISSN: 2072-7593 / 2311-7036 (online)

The Influence of the VR Environment on the Level of Anxiety

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M.M. Marinova

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Abstract

A technology of using virtual reality (VR) technology for psychological therapy of anxiety states is described. The technology is the relaxation computer VR-program “Ocean Rift”, which consists in the possibility of exploring the virtual underwater world and its inhabitants. Through virtual reality goggles, the observer could navigate through the sea, hear the sound of the sea, and turn and rotate their head with a 360° view. The study involved 120 subjects (74 women, 46 men) between the ages of 18 and 54 years, divided into three groups: low, moderate and high anxiety. It was shown that the relaxing effect of the virtual environment has a different effect on the severity of anxiety. For respondents with increased anxiety the method described is an effective way to relieve tension, lowering levels of situational and general anxiety and increasing positive impressions.

General Information

Keywords: virtual reality, VR, information technology, anxiety disorders, mental states, interactivity

Journal rubric: Psychology of Digital Reality

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2022150204

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of the state task of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 073-00110-22-02 dated 04/08/2022 "The impact of high-level virtual reality technologies on mental development in adolescence".

Received: 27.02.2022

Accepted:

For citation: Marinova M.M. The Influence of the VR Environment on the Level of Anxiety. Eksperimental'naâ psihologiâ = Experimental Psychology (Russia), 2022. Vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 49–58. DOI: 10.17759/exppsy.2022150204. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Mariya M. Marinova, Assistant Director of the Institute of Experimental Psychology, Academic Services Specialist, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Postgraduate Student, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8862-4007, e-mail: marinovamm@yandex.ru

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