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Brittany Magid, Psy.D., is a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Santa Barbara

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Dr. Brittany Magid

Dissertation Committee:

  • Brett Kia-Keating, EdD, Chairperson
  • Lynn Dhanak, PhD, Committee Member
  • Juliet Rohde-Brown, PhD, Committee Member.

Keywords

virtual reality, nature imagery, enhancing subjective happiness, quantitative study

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

This dissertation explores the impact of virtual nature imagery on subjective happiness, investigating whether exposure to virtual nature environments can enhance self-reported happiness levels. While direct interaction with natural environments has been linked to increased happiness, this study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of virtual alternatives. Using a quantitative approach, three types of virtual experiences: nature, active control (office environment), and a control condition (gray panel) were compared to assess their influence on acute happiness. Participants (N = 409) were randomly assigned to one of these conditions and completed the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) after viewing a 15-second video. Demographic variables such as age, gender, income, relationship status, education, and religiosity were also analyzed to explore their potential influence on happiness. The results did not indicate significant differences in happiness between the conditions (p = .118), with happiness levels being comparable across all groups. Interestingly, the control condition (gray panel) had the highest mean happiness score, suggesting that a neutral, non-distracting stimulus may have a subtle positive effect on subjective well-being. This study provides valuable insights into the role of virtual nature in enhancing happiness and highlights the importance of considering contextual factors, including prior experiences and individual differences, in future research. The findings indicate that, although virtual nature videos did not produce a significant increase in happiness within the context of this study, further exploration into the efficacy of virtual nature interventions, particularly considering variables such as exposure duration and participant-specific characteristics, remains essential for a more comprehensive understanding of their potential impact. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

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ORCID: 0009-0000-9315-3994

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