Nature Exposure Through Virtual Reality (NET-VR) in Older Adults

Nature Exposure Through Virtual Reality (NET-VR) in Older Adults

Daily exposure to nature is associated with improved mood and reduced anxiety symptoms in the overall population. Even brief contact with natural environments can lower stress and restore productivity.However, access to natural environments is often limited, particularly for urban and institutionalized older adults, due to physical, financial, and logistical barriers.These challenges highlight the need for new technologies that can facilitate more regular contact with nature. Virtual Reality (VR)-a digital technology that creates realistic scenes and objects to simulate the experience of being in a natural environment-offers a promising solution, particularly for older adults with physical or financial limitations.The aim of this study is to explore how both older adults might benefit from a mental health program that uses virtual reality to simulate exposure to nature.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) system featuring nature-based environments to improve emotional well-being, reduce psychological distress, and enhance cognitive functioning in older adults.

To achieve this, participants will be assigned to one of two groups: an experimental group that will receive the nature-based VR intervention, and a control group placed on a waiting list. The intervention is expected to have a positive impact on self-reported measures such as mindful awareness, anxiety, depression and cognitive functions (particularly attention and executive functioning) Additionally, usability-related aspects of the technology-such as presence, ease of use, and cybersickness-will also be assessed.

A total of 30 participants will be recruited (aged 60 to 90). Participation is voluntary and will take place at the International University of Catalonia (UIC Barcelona), through face-to-face group sessions.

The intervention will span 5 weeks, with two 30-minute session per week. Participants will use a VR headset to explore immersive natural environments (e.g., tropical islands, forests, snowy landscapes) via the Nature Treks VR software. Each session will follow a structured protocol with three stages: a training stage, a personalization stage, and a final immersive relaxation stage.

Before enrollment, participants will undergo an eligibility screening to ensure they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, particularly regarding mental and cognitive health. Group allocation will be randomized, and outcome assessments will be conducted by blinded evaluators to reduce bias.

This study aims to contribute new evidence on the psychological and cognitive benefits of nature-based VR interventions and their usability across different age groups, supporting the development of accessible and innovative tools for mental health and well-being.

Inclusion criteria:

1. being between 60 and 90 years old;
2. normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing.

Exclusion criteria (all self-reported:

1. high risk of anxiety and depressive disorders, as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)
2. Other serious mental disorders with psychotic or manic symptoms (e.g., psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, etc.), sensory complications that would prevent exposure (e.g., visual or auditory deficits), epilepsy, and other medical conditions (such as, balance/vestibular problem) that would disrupt the VR experience.
3. High risk of cognitive impairment as assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA test).