A public health perspective on virtual reality interventions: exploring the impact of VR extreme sports on stress, anxiety, and depression in men with social anxiety disorder

These findings highlight the promise of VR-based extreme sports as a novel, non-pharmacological intervention for men with SAD. By enabling controlled exposure to anxiety-provoking situations within a safe and immersive environment, the intervention effectively alleviated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, this approach may overcome common treatment barriers such as stigma and reluctance toward traditional therapy. Future large-scale, longitudinal studies are recommended to validate these outcomes and explore their long-term sustainability.