German Translation and Validation of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Short (VIMSSQ-short)

Motion sickness is a condition that is characterized by symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, especially during transportation or immersive visual experiences such as gaming and virtual reality (VR). Visually Induced Motion Sickness (VIMS) is of particular concern due to its increasing relevance with the rise of immersive technologies. The 6-item version of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ-short), a modified version of the established Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire, was developed to quickly assess individual susceptibility to VIMS. This study focuses on its translation into German and the validation of this German-language version of the VIMSSQ-short. The translation process included independent translations by experts and a back-translation to identify and resolve discrepancies. An online survey collected normative data from 200 participants, revealing a mean score of 5.85 (SD = 3.31) for the translated VIMSSQ-short. The results indicated significant gender differences, with females exhibiting higher susceptibility scores than males. Additionally, a significant negative correlation between age and susceptibility was observed. An experimental study involving 70 participants further confirmed these findings in terms of mean scores, gender, and age. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that higher VIMSSQ scores predict symptom severity during VR exposure ( r s = 0.58 with Simulator Sickness Questionnaire total score). Overall, the translated VIMSSQ-short shows promise as a reliable tool for assessing VIMS susceptibility in German-speaking populations, contributing to the understanding of motion sickness in immersive environments. The identification of susceptible individuals is relevant both for practical applications (e.g. in the training of emergency forces) and in experimental settings for the randomization or screening of participants.