Impact of nature and architectural design in virtual residential spaces and urban settings on human mental health and well-being: A systematic review

This systematic review investigates the role of natural and architectural elements in virtual reality (VR) environments in promoting mental health and well-being. Following PRISMA guidelines, 93 studies were included after screening 6,661 initially identified records, applying stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure methodological rigor. Geographically, the majority of studies were conducted in Asia, followed by Western Europe and North America, highlighting a global interest in leveraging VR for urban and residential design evaluation. Temporal analysis reveals a significant increase in research output starting in 2016, coinciding with advances in VR technology and its adoption in environmental psychology. The review explores the integration of biophilic elements, architectural features, lighting, and acoustic qualities in urban VR environments, demonstrating their potential to reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and improve emotional well-being. Included studies utilized subjective measures and physiological indicators, such as heart rate variability and cortisol levels, to assess psychological outcomes. However, methodological limitations were evident, including small sample sizes, limited participant diversity, and variability in study designs. Notably, none of the studies achieved a "good" rating in quality assessment using the NHLBI tool, emphasizing the need for methodological improvements across the field. This review highlights VR's transformative potential as a tool for urban planning and design, enabling the simulation and optimization of built environments to enhance mental health and well-being. Future research should prioritize larger, more diverse samples and longitudinal methodologies to validate findings and explore the sustainability of VR-driven interventions. • VR supports urban design by simulating environments that promote mental health and well-being. • Biophilic and natural elements in VR help reduce stress and promote relaxation. • Integrating physiological, behavioral, and psychological measures enhances the depth of VR studies. • VR-based studies often lack diverse samples and require the development of standardized methodologies. • Future VR research should prioritize sustainability and foster design synergies.