Effect of virtual reality therapy on stress and anxiety symptoms, and physiological measures among University students: an experimental study in Jordan

This study assessed the effect of virtual reality therapy on the stress and anxiety symptoms, in addition to physiological measures, including mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse rate among university students. A one group pretest-posttest design was used. The participants were baccalaureate students who enrolled in all faculties at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman Governorate. This study was conducted between December and January, 2019. The intervention involved an experience as a therapy called River Relaxation virtual reality (VR), which downloaded through Stream VR. The participants attended eight sessions for 15 min two sessions weekly over one month in the VR laboratory. There was a significant difference between the pre-post virtual reality therapy intervention for perceived stress (t = 8.411, p < 0.001), anxiety (t = 10.145, p < 0.001), MAP (t = 6.393, p < 0.001), and pulse (t = 2.571, p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant lowering in perceived stress, anxiety, and physiological measures including, MAP and pulse as a result of the Virtual Reality Therapy. The findings suggest the importance of integrating virtual reality therapy as an effective intervention to minimize stress and anxiety, and enhance physiological measures among university students.