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In modern society, technology is undoubtedly an indispensable factor in our lives. From groceries to education, technology is fundamentally rooted in almost every aspect of our life. In the medical field, many advancements in technology have allowed us to cure physical diseases, but what about psychological stress and burdens? With the growing problems and daily stresses of modern society, many people find themselves overwhelmed and burdened. Many feel a need to ‘escape’ from their daily lives and take a break (Source D). With these advancements in technology, is there any possible digital treatment for daily stress? Well, virtual reality might have the answer. Virtual Reality, known more commonly as a VR, is a 360 degree digital immersive experience that allows people to feel simulations like reality. But to what extent can virtual reality exactly treat stress, and how can we know if it is effective?
One of the main causes of psychological stress is daily life. According to Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist based in California, many people go on vacations and trips in order to escape from the daily struggles and stresses of life (Source D). This specific concept of “escapism”, or the idea of going on trips in order to ignore and evade reality, is a “physical and mental response in order to avoid further distress and psychological harm”. . Karen Stein, a sociologist studying culture and the author of “Getting Away from it All: Vacations and Identity”, says that vacations and trips can be a way for people to avert their attention towards the identities and commitments that are present in the background of our daily lives (Source D). However, for many people in corporate jobs, money is a big issue. In many companies, sick days and paid leave days are strictly limited, which can hinder people from taking vacations or trips for personal enjoyment. Although vacations and trips can prove to be meaningful experiences away from stress, the truth is, many people that need these vacations are simply unable to do so because of their financial and social position.
Although trips may prove to be beneficial towards stress, nature also offers a place of comfort. According to an article published in Frontiers in Society by Matthew Browning and his colleagues, nature is scientifically proven to increase and improve mood, with nature videos proving beneficial in 6,9, and 15 minute increments (Source A). Nature inspires feelings of awe and wonder into people of all ages, and helps decrease levels of stress in the brain. Certainly, nature seems like a great alternative to combat the daily struggles and stresses of life. However, one of the main limitations of nature is the lack of nature. Browning says that almost two-thirds of Americans live in cities with limited access to green spaces, and even people with access feel hesitant to go outside or have sufficient time to do so. As mentioned in Source D, one of the main reasons people do not pursue recreational activities like admiring nature and going on trips is because of the lack of time and resources. Although both sources A and D mention the benefits of recreational activities, Source A dives into an alternative solution: Virtual Reality. According to studies mentioned in Browning’s article, “cognitive functioning and physiological stress levels also show some benefit from brief 360-degree videos of nature.” (Source A). Using VR as an alternative is a great way for people uncomfortable with going out to still enjoy the benefits of nature. The growing increase in inventions like Apple’s Vision Pro hints at a future where true immersion in a simulation can soon be achieved. However, if Virtual Reality is such a strong solution, why has it not been more widespread?
Many critics are unsure whether virtual reality can fully replace real-life experiences. “Real views of nature seen from windows have reduced physiological markers of stress more than virtual views of nature seen from wall;-mounted TVs.” (Source A). Although virtual reality is advanced, it is still unable to fully mimic nature’s full experience. In addition, VR sets can be a costly upfront investment, which can also discourage people from buying them. However, compared to other technologies, VR proves to be the most immersive and provides the most therapeutic benefits, especially when eliciting feelings of awe critical for attention restoration theory (Source A). With the growing increase in technology and the constant stress of daily life, VR is one of the best options for investment. Although upfront costs may be high, going on vacation can also be just as costly. Additionally, driving to green spaces takes up gas and time, which can also prove to be costly in the long term. VR may have a high-upfront investment cost, but its clinical benefits outweigh the high-upfront cost. For people like elderly and the disabled who struggle to be active, VR is an amazing way to experience nature or trips that can reduce levels of stress without even getting out of their house. The implementation of VR to combat stress is proven to be beneficial toward mental health and more importantly, is more time-efficient compared to going on physical trips and walks to nature.
With the growing wave of technology approaching, technology like VR is sure to become more readily available and widespread. Rather than proving to be an activity for the elite, common people will soon be able to utilize and explore the benefits of virtual reality on stress and tension, all from the comfort of their homes.