How VR Nature Videos Enhance Astronauts' Mental Well-being

KEYWORDS - Astronaut Mental Health | Virtual Reality | 360° Nature Videos | Stress Management | Reduce Fatigue

Reviewed Study: Autonomous Psychological Support for Isolation and Confinement

INTRODUCTION

Space exploration presents unparalleled challenges to astronauts' mental well-being, with factors like isolation, intense workloads, and monotony affecting their psychological state during long-duration missions. History has shown that psychological events can significantly impact missions, highlighting the crucial need for crewmembers to be not only resilient but also equipped to manage conflicts and mental health issues effectively. In this context, leveraging technology-based tools for psychosocial training and interventions becomes paramount. The study incorporated modules from the Expedition-APPP (Astronaut Psychological and Psychiatric Program), focusing on conflict resolution, mood management, and depression, to enhance astronauts' psychological preparedness. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) technology, including Atmosphaeres 360° nature videos, provided astronauts with immersive emotional experiences to mitigate stress and bolster mental well-being in the confined environment of space missions. These tools aimed to equip astronauts with essential skills to navigate psychological challenges, improve communication, and ensure their psychological well-being throughout extended space exploration missions.

 

METHODS

The study tested self-directed psychological support tools in isolated environments like space missions. Researchers evaluated the "Expedition-APPP," a digital training program for conflict resolution, stress management, and depression, alongside virtual reality (VR) nature experiences (Sphaeres VR Experiences). The study took place at the HI-SEAS Mars simulation habitat, where six-person crews lived for 8–12 months in a sealed off dome to study the physical and psychological effects of long-duration space travel. Participants were instructed to use both tools at least once and could revisit them as needed. After the missions, they took part in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using qualitative research methods. This approach helped identify key insights into the feasibility and implementation of autonomous mental health support.

 

RESULTS

Apart from Expedition-APPP, the research explored the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) 360° nature videos, on astronauts' mental well-being during long-duration space missions. The study found that astronauts who engaged with these VR experiences reported benefits, such as stress reduction, mood enhancement, and emotional well-being. Participants noted that the immersive nature scenes provided a sense of relaxation and escapism from the confined and stressful space environment. The VR technology allowed astronauts to access sensory experiences that were otherwise unavailable in space, like familiar surroundings and nature scenes. These findings suggest that incorporating VR nature experiences into astronauts' routines can play a crucial role in supporting their mental health and overall well-being during extended missions in space.

 

DISCUSSION

The positive effects of Virtual Reality (VR) 360° nature videos on astronauts' mental well-being highlight the potential of technology to enhance psychosocial support in space missions. By providing a digital escape to nature scenes, VR offers a unique tool for astronauts to manage stress, improve mood, and promote emotional resilience during extended missions. These findings underscore the importance of integrating technology-based approaches into psychological training and treatment protocols for astronauts. Utilizing VR technology in space missions can not only contribute to astronauts' mental health but also enable them to better cope with the psychological challenges of isolation and confinement, ultimately supporting mission success.

 

 

ACADEMIA & NON-PROFIT

For registered research organizations that want to further investigate the effectiveness of 360° videos to reduce stress as well as increase relaxation and improve mood of VR users we offer a 30% academic discount on top of all volume discounts for the royalty-free 360 stock videos. Our Sphaeres VR Experiences are free to use in their original, unaltered form for all non-commercial, strictly academic research. If you have any questions about the 360 video license conditions or would like review samples of any of our 360 stock videos or VR Experiences, please contact us.

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Citation: Lyons, K. D., Slaughenhaupt, R. M., Mupparaju, S. H., Lim, J. S., Anderson, A. A., Stankovic, A. S., Cowan, D. R., Fellows, A. M., Binsted, K. A., & Buckey, J. C. (2020). Autonomous Psychological Support for Isolation and Confinement. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 91(11), 876–885. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5705.2020

Conflict of Interest Declaration: While this study used one or more of Atmosphaeres’ 360 VR Experiences or stock videos, the study was conducted fully independently by the study authors and without any involvement of the video creators Eric & Susanne Fassbender (Atmosphaeres).

Disclaimer: This summary was created with the help of AI writing tools. The content may therefore not always be entirely accurate. We assume no responsibility for any false or incorrect information provided in this article. It is essential to independently verify the content in the original publication which is linked in the citation section above.

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