| Title |
Effects of virtual reality-based relaxation techniques on psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators / |
| Authors |
Mazgelytė, Eglė ; Rekienė, Virginija ; Dereškevičiūtė, Edita ; Petrėnas, Tomas ; Songailienė, Jurgita ; Utkus, Algirdas ; Chomentauskas, Gintaras ; Karčiauskaitė, Dovilė |
| DOI |
10.3390/healthcare9121729 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Healthcare.. Basel : MDPI. 2021, vol. 9, art. no. 1729, p. [1-14].. eISSN 2227-9032 |
| Keywords [eng] |
stress ; virtual reality ; relaxation ; biofeedback |
| Abstract [eng] |
Various relaxation techniques could benefit from merging with virtual reality (VR) tech- nologies, as these technologies are easily applicable, involving, and user-friendly. To date, it is unclear which relaxation technique using biofeedback combined with VR technology is the most effective. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of brief VR-based biofeedback-assisted relaxation techniques including electroencephalographic biofeedback, mindfulness-based biofeedback, gal- vanic skin response biofeedback, and respiratory biofeedback. Forty-three healthy volunteers (age 34.7 ± 7.2 years), comprising 28 (65%) women and 15 (35%) men, were enrolled in the study. All the participants were exposed to four distinct relaxation sessions according to a computer-generated random sequence. The efficacy of relaxation methods was evaluated by examining psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators. All VR-based relaxation techniques reduced salivary steroid hormone (i.e., cortisol, cortisone, and total glucocorticoid) levels and increased galvanic skin response values. Similarly, all interventions led to a significantly reduced subjectively perceived psychological strain level. Three out of the four interventions (i.e., electroencephalographic, respi- ratory, and galvanic skin response-based biofeedback relaxation sessions) resulted in a decreased self-reported fatigue level. We suggest that newly developed VR-based relaxations techniques are potential tools for stress reduction and might be particularly suitable for individuals who are not capable of adhering to a strict and time-consuming stress management intervention schedule. |
| Published |
Basel : MDPI |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2021 |
| CC license |
|
