Could virtual reality ease the burden of coronavirus isolation?

New research highlights how virtual reality could help ease the burden of the coronavirus crisis.

Social isolation can have a huge psychological impact. A new article suggests that virtual reality can help alleviate the stresses imposed by the need for social isolation because of the coronavirus crisis.

The article, How Cyberpsychology and Virtual Reality Can Help Us to Overcome the Psychological Burden of Coronavirus, also provide a link to a free 360, 3D video that people can play along with suggestions for how to use it.

The piece was co-authored by Giuseppe Riva, PhD, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy), and journal Editor-in-Chief Brenda Wiederhold, PhD, Virtual Reality Medical Center, and has been published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

The psychological impact of social isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing people to manage three different psychological problems at the same time: the stress of the disease, the disappearance of places, and the crisis of the sense of community.

The fear of getting sick is making people anxious and the need to quarantine is making people lose a sense of place and community.

The cost of virtual reality technology, which simulates the real world, has come down considerably in recent years and there is now free access to 360-degree immersive videos that allow a person to feel like they are actually in a virtual space.

Editor-in-Chief Brenda Wiederhold, Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California and Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium, said: “As our society continues to face these difficult times, it becomes imperative to address mental well-being. It is uplifting to see practical uses of advanced technologies, such as virtual reality, making a positive impact.

“Although previously characterised by some as isolating, we see this new use of shared virtual spaces becoming increasingly important as a means to bring individuals and families together. We look forward to continued exploration of ways that can enrich our shared human experience.”

The new article provides a day-by-day suggested plan for how to use the free 360 video.