Design of Game-Based Virtual Forests for Psychological Stress Therapy - Inria - Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Forests Année : 2023

Design of Game-Based Virtual Forests for Psychological Stress Therapy

Résumé

Numerous studies have reported the beneficial effects of natural environments on human health and wellbeing. Virtual games may offer a practical approach to experience the illusion of being in a natural setting for those with limited access to nature. This study presents an evaluation of a nature-based virtual environment application to modulate the participant’s affective and psychological state. We developed a game-based virtual therapy using the Unity 3D game engine by implementing forest therapy activities and designing the forest environment like a real-life forest. Eight healthy adults participated in this study and were observed remotely. The participants’ mood states before and after the game were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). In addition, the satisfaction and usability of the game-based virtual forest were assessed using the Game-User Experience Satisfaction Scale and System Usability Scale, respectively. The results revealed that participants experienced significantly improved moods (p < 0.05) and decreased stress levels (p < 0.05) after playing the game. Moreover, the results indicated multiple positive correlations between the game experience and immersion subscales, revealing that audio and visual aesthetics offered an environment for users to feel more immersed. The study suggests using virtual forest games to promote positive mood and mental health.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
LISPEN_FORESTS_2023_MERIENNE.pdf (3.11 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte

Dates et versions

hal-04002448 , version 1 (23-02-2023)

Identifiants

Citer

Nur Ain Mohamad Yahaya, Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli, Suziah Sulaiman, Frédéric Merienne, Emad Alyan. Design of Game-Based Virtual Forests for Psychological Stress Therapy. Forests, 2023, 14 (2), pp.288. ⟨10.3390/f14020288⟩. ⟨hal-04002448⟩
8 Consultations
20 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More