Stress Reduction and Emotional Regulation Through VR
At A Glance
VR as a tool for relaxation, anxiety reduction, and emotional regulation using immersive environments such as nature scenes.
Across studies, VR is consistently used as a rapid emotional calming intervention in both clinical and residential care settings.
Key Research Findings
VR reliably induces relaxation and emotional calming in older adults
Participants consistently reported feeling calmer and more relaxed following VR exposure across feasibility studies (Appel et al., 2020).
Observable mood improvements occur during VR sessions
Approximately 70% of participants in acute care showed visible enjoyment or relaxation during VR therapy (Appel et al., 2021 JMIR).
VR provides a safe non-pharmacological emotional regulation tool
No serious adverse events were reported across studies involving frail older adults and dementia populations (Appel et al., 2020).
Nature-based VR content is particularly effective for calming responses
Immersive natural environments (forests, oceans, outdoor scenes) were most frequently associated with relaxation and reduced anxiety (Appel et al., 2020).
Why This Matters
VR has strong potential to support emotional wellbeing and reduce stress in care settings—but its impact depends on how accessible and easy it is to integrate into daily routines. caregiVR can function as a rapid, non-verbal calming intervention, suitable for use before care activities, during distress, or as part of routine emotional regulation strategies in care environments.
Our Publications
Appel, L., Bogler, O., Appel, E., et al. (2020). Older adults with cognitive and/or physical impairments can benefit from immersive virtual reality experiences: A feasibility study. Frontiers in Medicine, 6, 329. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00329
Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., et al. (2021). Administering virtual reality therapy to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital. JMIR Formative Research, 5(2), e22406. https://doi.org/10.2196/22406