Exploring the use of Virtual Reality to enhance rapid decompression from occupational stress during short wellness breaks for content moderators

Psychology, Occupational Health, Human-Computer Interaction

This preprint investigates the application of Virtual Reality (VR) for stress reduction in a specific occupational group (content moderators). While the study did not demonstrate significant changes in long-term, trait-based anxiety or occupational stress, it did show reductions in short-term, state-based stress and improvements in mood after using VR. This aligns with existing research on the short-term effects of VR on stress and mood, placing the study within the 'normal science' stage of Kuhn's paradigm cycle. The study elaborates on the existing paradigm by exploring the use of VR within a specific occupational setting and over a longer period than most previous research. However, it doesn't challenge or seek to replace the dominant understanding of VR's effects on stress and relaxation; rather, it contributes to the ongoing accumulation of knowledge within the existing paradigm. The study's focus on a novel population and context, combined with the mixed findings (positive short-term effects but no long-term changes), suggests the potential for future research to explore modifications or refinements within the existing paradigm. This could involve investigating different VR interventions, longer intervention periods, or tailoring VR experiences to specific individual needs, all of which would still operate within the existing paradigm of VR as a stress-reduction tool.