Can Immersive Virtual Reality Environments Improve Stress Reduction? Experimental Design with Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training

Abstract

Psychological relaxation techniques are now fundamental in stress-management and anxiety-disorder prevention training. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) stands out among various other training programmes. However, some limitations restrict its widespread usage, such as the requirements for a therapist to be in attendance and for patients to close their eyes during treatment. In such cases, support through immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) during the training procedure may be a suitable solution. In this study, an iVR application was developed for individuals undergoing PMR training, and an experimental design with both independent and subjective measures was conducted to compare this novel approach with conventional PMR training. The study was validated in two population groups: nursing undergraduates (one training session, n=63) and undergraduates following a test anxiety programme (complete training procedure: 7 sessions, n=13). The results pointed to high satisfaction and relaxation levels across all groups. No significant differences were found between the two methodologies, suggesting that the iVR application could be a useful tool in both educational and clinical contexts. In the long experience group (7 sessions), the iVR students showed higher interest which may have contributed to adherence to the entire training procedure. Furthermore, the iVR tool demonstrated potential suitability users unable to follow conventional procedures, exemplified by a student who, due to her own anxiety-related symptoms, felt very uncomfortable when instructed to close her eyes during the relaxation training.