Gender Switching in Social VR: The Impact of Socioeconomic Stability and Gender Role Stress on Female Avatar Selection Among Japanese Male Users

< 0.001). These results suggest that structural instability in achieving the "salaryman" ideal and interpersonal pressure to conform to masculine norms are both associated with gender-switched avatar use. By combining LCA with regression analysis, this study shows how socioeconomic conditions and specific male-role stresses jointly shape identity expression in immersive virtual settings. Future research should examine the long-term impact of gender switching on identity and well-being and test the cross-cultural applicability of these findings.