Assessing emotions and stress alleviation in college students: A comparison of VR-aided and physical meditation spaces
Date
2024-12
Authors
Ahmadi, Heliya
Major Professor
Advisor
Cho, Yongyeon
Peterson, Nicole
Diblasi, Johnny
Braidwood, Alex
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Abstract
This thesis investigates the effectiveness of VR-enhanced meditation environments compared to a traditional physical meditation space in reducing stress and improving emotional well-being among college students. The study, which included 32 participants, compares the impact of these environments on students' emotional states and stress levels with a focus on how specific design principles shape their experiences. This thesis examines five fundamental design principles: 1) view to the outside, 2) connectivity to the outside, 3) size of the space, 4) openness scale, and 5) movement and their influence on the meditative experience within both physical and virtual settings. Interior design principles are crucial for creating immersive and engaging VR meditation environments. The thesis explores the potential of immersive VR experiences, incorporating both VR-enhanced meditation environments and 360-degree VR video meditation environments, to enhance traditional meditation practices and offer more effective stress management tools.
The purpose of this research is to identify innovative strategies for improving emotional well-being in higher education by leveraging the unique capabilities of VR technology to create highly flexible meditation environments.
The study uses an experimental design, randomly assigning participants to one of three groups: a VR-enhanced meditation environment, a 360-degree VR video meditation, and a traditional audio-guided meditation session in a physical space. Emotional responses were measured using the Pleasure, Arousal, and Dominance (PAD) scales, while stress levels were assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before and after the intervention.
The study's results underscore the significant role of well-designed VR environments in enhancing emotional engagement and reducing stress within meditation spaces. VR can promote the emotional impact of physical spaces by creating experiences tailored to individual emotional and psychological needs. Its ability to offer highly customizable and adaptable environments allows it to cater to a wide range of preferences, making it a powerful tool for meditation. The findings also emphasize the importance of considering the psychological impact of design elements in VR environments. VR can facilitate active engagement and interaction, significantly amplifying the emotional impact of the experience.
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