Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
5-2026
Abstract
The psychological benefits of nature exposure are vital for well-being in an increasingly urbanised world. While previous research has consistently demonstrated the restorative effects of natural environments on both physical and psychological health, findings on virtual nature simulations remain mixed, possibly due to the limited immersive quality of conventional displays. Virtual reality (VR), however, provides immersive visual and auditory engagement, making it a promising alternative for delivering nature-based experiences when direct exposure to real nature environments is unavailable. The present study examined the effects of VR-simulated nature on attentional and emotional restoration and self-control capacity, using a preregistered, within-subjects experimental design. Participants experienced both the VR nature condition and the non-immersive urban video condition as a control, with the order of conditions counterbalanced across participants. Emotional restoration, self-control capacity, and working memory capacity, as an index of attentional restoration, were assessed before and after each condition. VR nature exposure significantly enhanced self-control capacity and positive affect, while reducing negative affect compared to the urban control condition. However, no significant differences between the conditions were observed in working memory capacity. This research demonstrates that VR-simulated nature exposure improves affective outcomes and self-control capacity. These findings contribute to our understanding of VR technology as a potential alternative for urban populations with limited access to natural environments.
Keywords
Nature exposure, Virtual reality simulations, Attention restoration, Well-being, Working memory capacity, Preregistered experiment
Discipline
Cognitive Psychology | Place and Environment
Research Areas
Psychology
Areas of Excellence
Sustainability
Publication
Journal of Environmental Psychology
Volume
112
First Page
1
Last Page
12
ISSN
0272-4944
Identifier
10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103082
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
EUN, Zoey K. Y., YANG, Hwajin, CHEN, Nicole R. Y., & HARTANTO, Andree.(2026). The restorative effects of nature exposure via virtual reality on well-being, self-control, and working memory. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 112, 1-12.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/4459
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103082