Virtual reality (VR) opened up possibilities to immerse ourselves into different worlds through games or other experiences. Although we are in awe of the imaginary worlds or places we travel to in virtual reality, it poses risks to our sense of reality. A study in Computers in Human Behavior found that virtual reality may be bad for you. Why? Let’s find out below.
How can VR be bad for you?
This might make you wonder, how can VR be bad for you? Niclas Braun and his co-researchers and writers have found some people that may be experiencing depersonalization and derealization after regular use of VR. The researchers have further stated that one session can put you at risk of exhibiting symptoms of depersonalization and derealization. But before we delve into the study itself, let’s learn what depersonalization and derealization are.
Mayo Clinic defines depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) as a condition where you might feel things don’t seem real, or you seem out of touch with your body, and you’re observing it from a distance.
Now, back to the study. The researchers noted that while their participants may have had symptoms of DPDR, it’s unclear whether they would have that condition following usage of VR. After all, the researchers had only asked participants to record and report their symptoms post-gaming, one-day post-gaming, and one-week post-gaming. For them to identify the symptoms of DPDR, participants had to answer a personality inventory.
The participants played Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This game was chosen because of its immersive nature and device compatibility. In addition, the researchers chose a particular scene in the game where the player would have to escape from a dragon because of its vividness and excitability.
The Results
In their study, while they examined the effect of VR, they also had other participants playing using a personal computer (PC). It allowed them to compare how high the DPDR symptoms were compared to the PC users. The researchers found that participants from both sets (VR and PC) had experienced symptoms relating to DPDR, with VR users experiencing it at a greater scale.
But should gamers worry about the future? No. The researchers have stated that while DPDR symptoms manifested in their participants, they suggest that the immediate DPDR symptoms MAY NOT affect gamers long-term. Plus, they note that future studies can also focus on other games and the longevity of VR usage for more insights on this matter.
One thing to note here is that this wasn’t the first study to tackle how virtual reality may be bad for you. One of the earliest studies was in 2010. It was also referenced in the current Braun et al. article. It was also mentioned that after immediate use of VR, participants had experienced DPDR symptoms.
Other Effects of VR
With VR relying heavily on a headset, prolonged use can also affect your health physically. Headaches and nausea are the two common symptoms of cybersickness. These were also tested in the Braun et al. article. They found that some participants had experienced motion sickness.
Using VR: Best Practices
As enticing as it is to use VR for hours on end, make sure that you’re also taking care of yourself to avoid symptoms of DPDR or cybersickness.
- The Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy suggests using your VR headset for 15 to 30 minutes only. After that, you should take a 10 to 15-minute break.
- Wired talked to Dr. Adrian Priesol about what to remember when wearing a VR headset. He says that the VR headset should fit properly on your head and the interpupillary distance settings are also adjusted well. And if you need glasses, make sure that it’s comfortable on your headset. Not only that, but you should set the frame rate to 60 frames per second or higher.
- Healthline says you can take Dramamine if you’re feeling nauseous. Plus, you can use other equipment to aid your use of VR, such as VR treadmills and cybershoes.
