8,526
Views
12
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Systematic Reviews

Virtual reality and immersive technologies to promote workplace wellbeing: a systematic review

ORCID Icon, , , &
Pages 253-273 | Received 26 Jul 2022, Accepted 30 Nov 2022, Published online: 15 Mar 2023

References

  • Abdalrahman, Z., & Galbrun, L. (2020). Audio-visual preferences, perception, and use of water features in open-plan offices. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 147(3), 1661–1672. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0000892
  • Ahmaniemi, T., Lindholm, H., Muller, K., & Taipalus, T. 2017. Virtual reality experience as a stress recovery solution in workplace [Paper presentation]. Paper presented at the 2017 IEEE Life Sciences Conference (LSC). https://doi.org/10.1109/LSC.2017.8268179
  • Anderson, A. P., Mayer, M. D., Fellows, A. M., Cowan, D. R., Hegel, M. T., & Buckey, J. C. (2017). Relaxation with immersive natural scenes presented using virtual reality. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 88(6), 520–526. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.4747.2017
  • Annerstedt, M., Jönsson, P., Wallergård, M., Johansson, G., Karlson, B., Grahn, P., Hansen, A. M., & Währborg, P. (2013). Inducing physiological stress recovery with sounds of nature in a virtual reality forest—Results from a pilot study. Physiology & Behavior, 118, 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.023
  • Balaji, P., Varne, S. R., & Ali, S. S. (2012). Physiological effects of yogic practices and transcendental meditation in health and disease. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 4(10), 442–448. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.101980
  • Barton, A. C., Sheen, J., & Byrne, L. K. (2020). Immediate Attention Enhancement and Restoration From Interactive and Immersive Technologies: A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2050. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02050
  • Blake, H., Bermingham, F., Johnson, G., & Tabner, A. (2020). Mitigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: a digital learning package. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9), 2997. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17092997
  • Blum, J., Rockstroh, C., & Göritz, A. S. (2019). Heart rate variability biofeedback based on slow-paced breathing with immersive virtual reality nature scenery. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2172. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02172
  • Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L. M., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456
  • Chung, K., Lee, D., & Park, J. Y. (2018). Involuntary attention restoration during exposure to mobile-based 360 virtual nature in healthy adults with different levels of restorative experience: Event-related potential study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(11), e11152. https://doi.org/10.2196/11152
  • Cikajlo, I., Staba, U. C., Vrhovac, S., Larkin, F., & Roddy, M. (2017). A cloud-based virtual reality app for a novel telemindfulness service: rationale, design and feasibility evaluation. JMIR Research Protocols, 6(6), e6849. https://doi.org/10.2196/resprot.6849
  • de Kort, Y. A., Meijnders, A. L., Sponselee, A. A., & IJsselsteijn, W. A. (2006). What’s wrong with virtual trees? Restoring from stress in a mediated environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 26(4), 309–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.09.001
  • Edwards, D., & Burnard, P. (2003). A systematic review of stress and stress management interventions for mental health nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 42(2), 169–200. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02600.x
  • EPHPP (2010). Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. The Effective Public Health Practice Project. http://www.ephpp.ca/PDF/Quality%20Assessment
  • Gaggioli, A., Pallavicini, F., Morganti, L., Serino, S., Scaratti, C., Briguglio, M., & Bernava, G. (2014). Experiential virtual scenarios with real-time monitoring (interreality) for the management of psychological stress: a block randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(7), e3235. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3235
  • Gorini, A., & Riva, G. (2008). The potential of Virtual Reality as anxiety management tool: a randomized controlled study in a sample of patients affected by Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Trials, 9(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-9-25
  • Guilbaud, P., Guilbaud, T. C., & Jennings, D. (2021). Extended Reality, Pedagogy, and Career Readiness: A Review of Literature. [Paper presentation]. Paper presented at the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction.
  • Harvey, S. B., Modini, M., Joyce, S., Milligan-Saville, J. S., Tan, L., Mykletun, A., Bryant, R. A., Christensen, H., & Mitchell, P. B. (2017). Can work make you mentally ill? A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 74(4), 301–310. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-104015
  • Herrero, R., García-Palacios, A., Castilla, D., Molinari, G., & Botella, C. (2014). Virtual reality for the induction of positive emotions in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a pilot study over acceptability, satisfaction, and the effect of virtual reality on mood. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(6), 379–384. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0052
  • Holmes, E. A., O'Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard, C., Christensen, H., Cohen Silver, R., Everall, I., Ford, T., John, A., Kabir, T., King, K., Madan, I., Michie, S., Przybylski, A. K., Shafran, R., Sweeney, A., … Bullmore, E. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 7(6), 547–560. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30168-1
  • Horesh, D., & Brown, A. D. (2020). Traumatic stress in the age of COVID-19: A call to close critical gaps and adapt to new realities. Psychological Trauma : theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 12(4), 331–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000592
  • HSE (2020a). Health and Safety Executive, Costs to Great Britain of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related Ill Health – 2018/19. https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/cost.htm
  • HSE. (2020b). Health and Safety Executive, Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 2020. https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf
  • Jerdan, S. W., Grindle, M., van Woerden, H. C., & Boulos, M. N. K. (2018). Head-mounted virtual reality and mental health: critical review of current research. JMIR Serious Games, 6(3), e9226. https://doi.org/10.2196/games.9226
  • Kanas, N., Sandal, G., Boyd, J., Gushin, V., Manzey, D., North, R., & Fiedler, E. (2009). Psychology and culture during long-duration space missions. Acta Astronautica, 64(7-8), 659–677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2008.12.005
  • Karacan, B., Kombeiz, O., & Steidle, A. (2021). Powered by virtual realities: promoting emotional recovery through technology-based recovery interventions. Ergonomics, ;64(10):1351–1366. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.1912399
  • Kirkham, H. S., Clark, B. L., Bolas, C. A., Lewis, G. H., Jackson, A. S., Fisher, D., & Duncan, I. (2015). Which modifiable health risks are associated with changes in productivity costs? Population Health Management, 18(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2014.0033
  • Klatt, M. D., Buckworth, J., & Malarkey, W. B. (2009). Effects of low-dose mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) on working adults. Health Education & Behavior : The Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 36(3), 601–614. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198108317627
  • Li, M., Wang, L., Jiang, M., Wu, D., Tian, T., & Huang, W. (2020). Relaxation techniques for depressive disorders in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 24(3), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2020.1764587
  • Liberatore, M. J., & Wagner, W. P. (2021). Virtual, mixed, and augmented reality: A systematic review for immersive systems research. Virtual Reality, 25(6), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-020-00492-0
  • Lin, S. L., Huang, C. Y., Shiu, S. P., & Yeh, S. H. (2015). Effects of yoga on stress, stress adaption, and heart rate variability among mental health professionals—A randomized controlled trial. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 12(4), 236–245. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12097
  • Liszio, S., Graf, L., & Masuch, M. (2018). The relaxing effect of virtual nature: immersive technology provides relief in acute stress situations. Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine, 16, 87–93.
  • Ma, H., & Shu, S. (2018). An experimental study: The restorative effect of soundscape elements in a simulated open-plan office. Acta Acustica United with Acustica, 104(1), 106–115. https://doi.org/10.3813/AAA.919150
  • Maarsingh, B. M., Bos, J., Van Tuijn, C. F., & Renard, S. B. (2019). Changing stress mindset through Stressjam: a virtual reality game using biofeedback. Games for Health Journal, 8(5), 326–331. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2018.0145
  • Manjrekar, S., Sandilya, S., Bhosale, D., Kanchi, S., Pitkar, A., & Gondhalekar, M. (2014). CAVE: an emerging immersive technology–a review [Paper presentation]. Paper presented at the 2014 UKSim-AMSS 16th International Conference on Computer Modelling and Simulation.
  • Mattila, O., Korhonen, A., Pöyry, E., Hauru, K., Holopainen, J., & Parvinen, P. (2020). Restoration in a virtual reality forest environment. Computers in Human Behavior, 107, 106295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106295
  • Mezzina, R., Sashidharan, S., Rosen, A., Killaspy, H., & Saraceno, B. (2020). Mental health at the age of coronavirus: time for change. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(8), 965–968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01886-w
  • Michalos, G., Karvouniari, A., Dimitropoulos, N., Togias, T., & Makris, S. (2018). Workplace analysis and design using virtual reality techniques. CIRP Annals, 67(1), 141–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2018.04.120
  • Michel, A., Bosch, C., & Rexroth, M. (2014). Mindfulness as a cognitive–emotional segmentation strategy: An intervention promoting work–life balance. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 87(4), 733–754. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12072
  • Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & Group, P, PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
  • Nahar, S., & Gurav, R. (2018). Practice of relaxation techniques amongst working women. Practice, 3(1), 226–229.
  • Naylor, M., Morrison, B., Ridout, B., & Campbell, A. (2019). Augmented experiences: investigating the feasibility of virtual reality as part of a workplace wellbeing intervention. Interacting with Computers, 31(5), 507–523. https://doi.org/10.1093/iwc/iwz033
  • Naylor, M., Ridout, B., & Campbell, A. (2020). A scoping review identifying the need for quality research on the use of virtual reality in workplace settings for stress management. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 23(8), 506–518. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.0287
  • Nijland, J., Veling, W., Lestestuiver, B. P., & Van Driel, C. M. (2021). Virtual reality relaxation for reducing perceived stress of intensive care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 706527. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.706527
  • Nordgård, R., & Låg, T. (2021). The effects of virtual reality on procedural pain and anxiety in pediatrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, 95. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.699383
  • Palanica, A., Lyons, A., Cooper, M., Lee, A., & Fossat, Y. (2019). A comparison of nature and urban environments on creative thinking across different levels of reality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 44–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.04.006
  • Panaccio, A., & Vandenberghe, C. (2012). Five-factor model of personality and organizational commitment: The mediating role of positive and negative affective states. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(3), 647–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.03.002
  • Pretsch, J., Pretsch, E., Saretzki, J., Kraus, H., & Grossmann, G. (2020). Improving employee well-being by means of virtual reality–REALEX: an empirical case study. European Journal of Economics and Business Studies, 6(1), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejes.v6i1.p95-105
  • Putrino, D., Ripp, J., Herrera, J. E., Cortes, M., Kellner, C., Rizk, D., & Dams-O’Connor, K. (2020). Multisensory, nature-inspired recharge rooms yield short-term reductions in perceived stress among frontline healthcare workers. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 3213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.560833
  • Quick, J. C. E., & Tetrick, L. E. (2011). Handbook of occupational health psychology. American Psychological Association.
  • Rajguru, C., Obrist, M., & Memoli, G. (2020). Spatial soundscapes and virtual worlds: challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2714. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.569056
  • Riches, S., Azevedo, L., Bird, L., Pisani, S., & Valmaggia, L. (2021). Virtual reality relaxation for the general population: a systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56(10), 1707–1727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02110-z
  • Riches, S., & Smith, H. (2022). Taking a break in the “new normal”: virtual reality relaxation for a stressed workforce. Mental Health Review Journal, 27(2), 133–136. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-06-2022-095
  • Rockstroh, C., Blum, J., & Göritz, A. S. (2019). Virtual reality in the application of heart rate variability biofeedback. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 130, 209–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2019.06.011
  • Rössler, W. (2012). Stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction in mental health workers. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 262(2), 65–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-012-0353-4
  • Seymour, L. (2010). Common mental health problems and work: applying evidence to inform practice. Perspectives in Public Health, 130(2), 59–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913910363221
  • Slater, M., Usoh, M., & Steed, A. (1994). Depth of presence in virtual environments. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 3(2), 130–144. https://doi.org/10.1162/pres.1994.3.2.130
  • Sonnentag, S., & Zijlstra, F. R. (2006). Job characteristics and off-job activities as predictors of need for recovery, well-being, and fatigue. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(2), 330–350. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.2.330
  • Stetz, M. C., Kaloi-Chen, J. Y., Turner, D. D., Bouchard, S., Riva, G., & Wiederhold, B. K. (2011). The effectiveness of technology-enhanced relaxation techniques for military medical warriors. Military Medicine, 176(9), 1065–1070. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-10-00393
  • Tetrick, L. E., & Winslow, C. J. (2015). Workplace stress management interventions and health promotion. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behaviour, 2(1), 583–603. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032414-111341
  • Vaquero-Blasco, M. A., Perez-Valero, E., Morillas, C., & Lopez-Gordo, M. A. (2021). Virtual reality customized 360-degree experiences for stress relief. Sensors, 21(6), 2219. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21062219
  • Veling, W., Lestestuiver, B., Jongma, M., Hoenders, H. R., & van Driel, C. (2021). Virtual reality relaxation for patients with a psychiatric disorder: crossover randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(1), e17233. https://doi.org/10.2196/17233
  • Villani, D., Riva, F., & Riva, G. (2007). New technologies for relaxation: The role of presence. International Journal of Stress Management, 14(3), 260. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.14.3.260
  • Wang, X., Shi, Y., Zhang, B., & Chiang, Y. (2019). The influence of forest resting environments on stress using virtual reality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(18), 3263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183263
  • WHO. (2017). Mental health in the workplace. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health/areas-of-work/mental-health-in-the-workplace
  • Wiegner, L., Hange, D., Björkelund, C., & Ahlborg, G. (2015). Prevalence of perceived stress and associations to symptoms of exhaustion, depression and anxiety in a working age population seeking primary care-an observational study. BMC Family Practice, 16(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-015-0252-7
  • Wolever, R. Q., Bobinet, K. J., McCabe, K., Mackenzie, E. R., Fekete, E., Kusnick, C. A., & Baime, M. (2012). Effective and viable mind-body stress reduction in the workplace: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 17(2), 246–258. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027278
  • Yu, C.-P., Lee, H.-Y., & Luo, X.-Y. (2018). The effect of virtual reality forest and urban environments on physiological and psychological responses. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 35, 106–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.08.013