Contextual Influences on Simulator Sickness: A Comprehensive Analysis of Demographics, Gaming Experience and Simulation Context Complexity

Simulator sickness poses a persistent challenge in traffic research, affecting participant well-being and data validity. While individual traits such as age, gender, and gaming experience are known to influence susceptibility, contextual factors, such as simulator type and scenario complexity, are often overlooked or treated too simplistically. This study addresses this gap by introducing the Simulator Sickness Inducing Potential (SSIP) score, a metric that quantifies the contextual demands of a simulation. Data from eight studies involving pedestrian, cycling, and driving simulators (N = 268) were analyzed to examine how personal and contextual factors interact in predicting simulator sickness, measured via the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The findings show consistently higher SSQ levels in female participants, regardless of scenario. In contrast, age and gaming experience interacted with simulation complexity: older participants and those with less gaming experience were particularly vulnerable in high-SSIP scenarios. These findings highlight the importance of considering both person-related and scenario-specific factors. The SSIP score proved valuable not only for retrospective analysis but also holds promise for prospective scenario design and risk assessment in simulation studies.