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<p>The COVID-19 outbreak brought a need for practical considerations of using positive technology to address mental health issues induced by social isolation (SI). Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to help people improve their mental states by providing immersive experiences and social opportunities. Using quantitative and qualitative data, this study examined the perceptions of 312 participants on VR use to combat SI and impact social lives during the pandemic. Survey data analysis revealed that non-White VR owners had statistically significantly (<i>p</i> = .009) higher beliefs in the potential of VR to address SI compared with White VR owners, even though few purchased VR devices in response to the pandemic. Beyond gaming, VR technology was most frequently used for meeting new people, exercising, attending virtual events, and escaping the pandemic and SI by “visiting” virtual spaces. This study provides useful insights on beliefs and the affordances of VR, offering potential support for individuals struggling with SI, particularly among non-White populations. Although this study was inspired by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings may be generalizable to other types of socially compromised ordeals such as imprisonment or hospital confinement.</p>

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An Empirical Analysis of the Use of Virtual Reality for Coping with Social Isolation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月4日

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  • Tetyana K. Dhimolea,
  • Regina Kaplan-Rakowski,
  • Richard E. Ferdig

摘要

The COVID-19 outbreak brought a need for practical considerations of using positive technology to address mental health issues induced by social isolation (SI). Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to help people improve their mental states by providing immersive experiences and social opportunities. Using quantitative and qualitative data, this study examined the perceptions of 312 participants on VR use to combat SI and impact social lives during the pandemic. Survey data analysis revealed that non-White VR owners had statistically significantly (p = .009) higher beliefs in the potential of VR to address SI compared with White VR owners, even though few purchased VR devices in response to the pandemic. Beyond gaming, VR technology was most frequently used for meeting new people, exercising, attending virtual events, and escaping the pandemic and SI by “visiting” virtual spaces. This study provides useful insights on beliefs and the affordances of VR, offering potential support for individuals struggling with SI, particularly among non-White populations. Although this study was inspired by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings may be generalizable to other types of socially compromised ordeals such as imprisonment or hospital confinement.