Simulated Physiological Feedback and Environmental Stressors as Fear Triggers in an AR Serious Game

Floods are among the most frequent and damaging natural hazards globally, yet individual preparedness often lags behind the scale of the risk. Augmented Reality (AR) may be used to address this gap by simulating high-stakes disaster scenarios in safe, situated environments. This study investigates how environmental stressors and simulated physiological feedback influence threat appraisal and preparedness behavior in an AR serious game. Employing a mixed-methods approach, a between-subjects experiment ( N = 60) examines the effects of darkness, as an environmental stressor, and false heart-rate acceleration, as simulated physiological feedback, on psychological and behavioral factors. The study utilizes Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) constructs, situational awareness (SA), and task performance as primary metrics. Results indicate that environmental stressors increased perceived vulnerability, while simulated physiological feedback was associated with higher behavioral intention and situational awareness. The combined condition, which integrated both external and internal cues, resulted in the highest task completion rates. These findings suggest that AR disaster preparedness games could benefit from synchronizing environmental stressors and simulated physiological feedback to support effective risk communication and protective action.