Physiological and affective responses to green space virtual reality among pregnant women

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114499
• Publication Date: 2022-10-05T15:07:50Z
• Authors: Yi Sun; Fu Li; Tao He; Yaohan Meng; Jie Yin; Ilona S. Yim; Liyan Xu; Jun Wu
• Keywords: Hydrocortisone; Parks, Recreational; 05 social sciences; Virtual Reality; 01 natural sciences; Affect; Pregnancy; Salivary alpha-Amylases; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Pregnant Women; Stress, Psychological; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Benefits of green spaces on stress reduction have been shown in previous studies. Most existing studies to date focused the general population. However, there is a lack understanding physiological mechanisms underlying beneficial effects space among special populations, such as pregnant women. To examine and affective responses recovery women, using simulated exposure through virtual reality (VR). We recruited 63 women between 8 14 weeks' gestational age for laboratory experiment. Participants were randomly assigned view one three, 5-min, VR videos an urban scene with different levels (i.e., non-green, moderate, high) after stressor, Trier Social Stress Test. Physiological measured via changes blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance level, salivary alpha-amylase, cortisol. Affective response was Positive Negative Affect Scale. found that visual environment associated both including lower systolic pressure [-4.6 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI): −8.8, −0.4], reduced alpha-amylase concentration (−1.2 ng/ml, CI: −2.2, −0.2), improved overall positive affect (score: 6.6, 0.3, 13.0) decreased negative anxiety −2.6, −5.19, −0.04) compared non-green environment. Exposure high park-like setting had strongest impacts recovery. This study demonstrated could effectively ease improve mental health well-being during pregnancy. Even short immersion VR-based may bring benefits, which has significant implications when access actual nature not be possible.