VR-Hiking: Physical Exertion Benefits Mindfulness and Positive Emotions in Virtual Reality

Exploring the great outdoors offers physical and mental health benefits. Hiking is healthy, provides a sense of accomplishment, an opportunity to relax. However, nature trip not always possible, there lack evidence showing how these beneficial experiences can be replicated in Virtual Reality (VR). In response, we recruited (N=24) participants explore virtual mountain landscape within-subjects study with different levels exertion: walking, using chairlift, teleporting. We found that exertion when walking produced significantly more positive emotions mindfulness than other conditions. Our research shows physically demanding outdoor activities VR for user achievement hiking up on treadmill positively impacts wellbeing. demonstrate used add affect discuss consequences designers.