Acute Effects Of Immersive Virtual Reality Exercise On Physiological And Psychological Outcomes Of College Students With Anxiety Or Depression: A Pilot Study

Mental health has become a primary concern across college campuses. It is well-documented that exercise is an effective behavioral intervention for alleviating anxiety and depression. There has also been an increasing number of studies validating the usability of immersive virtual reality (VR) technology as a novel platform for exercise delivery, but the evidence is lacking to support its impact on college students with mental health conditions. PURPOSE: To determine the acute physiological and psychological effects of immersive VR exercises on college students with anxiety or depression. METHODS: A total of sixteen college students (Mage = 19.94, SD = 1.12 ;13 females) participated in the study. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to screen students with either symptomatology of anxiety or depression. Participants took part in two 20-minute exercise sessions, each on a separate day: 1) Bike exercise with immersive VR goggles and 2) traditional bike exercise without VR system. Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed every 4 minutes during each session. Mood, self-efficacy and enjoyment were assessed immediately before and after both sessions via a battery of validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Average scores for PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were 8.64 and 10.29, respectively. The mean difference scores of self-efficacy (t = 2.22, p < 0.05) and enjoyment (t = 2.43, p < 0.05) were significantly different between the two sessions, highlighting the significantly greater self-efficacy and enjoyment during VR bike sessions as compared to traditional bike sessions. Participants’ mood showed an upward trend during the VR bike sessions, but the between-session differences were not observed. Paired t-tests indicated that there were no significant differences on average heart rate and RPE between the two exercise conditions. CONCLUSION: Although physiological responses may be comparable between the two exercise modes, VR bike exercise can be more effective in enhancing self-efficacy and enjoyment compared to traditional bike exercise. College students who experience mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression symptomatology can benefit from a short burst of immersive VR bike exercise.