M27 - The Effects of Music Intervention on VR-Induced Stress

Introduction: : Virtual Reality (VR) enables users to immerse themselves in simulated settings that can significantly impact psychological well-being. Due to its immersive nature, VR has the potential to induce stress in users, but little is known about how VR-induced stress compares to conventional stress [1]. This gap in understanding poses challenges, particularly when evaluating the effectiveness of traditional stress-reduction treatments in VR contexts. As VR adoption grows, identifying effective and accessible interventions to manage VR-induced stress becomes increasingly important.

One promising intervention is music therapy. Research has demonstrated music’s ability to support psychological and motor functions, reduce mood swings, and improve mental well-being. In particular, interactive music therapy has been shown to reduce agitation, anxiety, and even the need for medication [2], [3]. Music is also easy to integrate into VR experiences, as most users already engage with audio devices while using VR.

This study explores whether music therapy can mitigate VR-induced stress. We use four physiological indicators—heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), body temperature (T), and number of steps (N)—to assess the effects of VR and music on stress levels. Participants experienced different conditions, including the presence or absence of VR and music, allowing us to isolate each variable’s impact.

We focused exclusively on LoFi music, characterized by its slow tempo, soft tones, and predictable structure, which previous studies suggest may help reduce stress [4], [5]. While other genres may have different effects, this study centers on LoFi’s potential to regulate stress responses during VR exposure.

Materials and

Methods: : The materials used in this experiment included a virtual reality headset (Oculus Meta Quest 2), over-the-ear headphones, a phone to play music and record fitness tracker data, a measuring tape to mark a five-meter distance, tape for marking endpoints, an Amazfit 7 Smart Watch, and a computer for recording results.

Participants first completed a pre-experience survey to ensure safety and accuracy. The survey collected data on age, ethnicity, gender, favorite and least favorite music genres, history of panic attacks, fear of heights, anxiety diagnosis, and prior exposure to the VR experience in 2D. Participants with a history of panic attacks, fear of heights, or anxiety diagnoses were excluded.

Eligible participants completed four randomized trials: (1) no VR, no music, (2) VR without music, (3) no VR with music, and (4) VR with music. In each trial, participants walked a five-meter path ten times. A random number generator determined the trial order.
Before each trial, participants' blood oxygen levels, average heart rate, and stress levels were recorded. After each trial, the following metrics were collected: number of steps, speed, blood oxygen, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, stress level, stride, and cadence.

Upon completing all trials, participants answered a post-experience survey with three questions about their emotional responses under each condition. Response options included: Less Anxious, More Anxious, and Indifferent. The data collected from the smartwatch were analyzed using a Python program with one-way ANOVA to evaluate statistical significance.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: An ANOVA was conducted to compare the effects of five treatment conditions (Baseline, VR with music, VR without music, No VR with music, and No VR without music) on eight physiological and behavioral variables: steps, speed, blood oxygen, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, stress, stride, and cadence. The resulting p-value of 0.99 indicated no statistically significant differences between groups for any of the measured outcomes.

Despite this, some observable trends emerged (Figure 1). Stress levels were generally lower in the “VR with music” group compared to “VR without music” and the baseline. Similarly, average and maximum heart rates were slightly reduced when music was present. Cadence data also appeared more stable under music conditions, suggesting that LoFi music may have had a mild calming or regulatory effect during VR exposure.

These trends, though not statistically significant, are worth further exploration. The lack of significance may be attributed to a small sample size, individual variability in stress response, or the limited sensitivity of the chosen physiological metrics. Additionally, LoFi music's specific characteristics—slow tempo, predictable structure, and minimal lyrical content—make it a good candidate for stress modulation, particularly in immersive environments like VR, where overstimulation can be a concern.

This study sought to evaluate whether LoFi music could mitigate physiological and behavioral indicators of VR-induced stress. While the data did not yield statistically significant results, the trends observed align with prior literature suggesting music’s potential to regulate stress responses. Future studies with larger participant pools, diverse musical genres, and extended exposure durations may help clarify music's role in VR-based stress regulation.

In summary, LoFi music may offer a low-effort, easily integrated strategy to improve user comfort in VR environments. Though further validation is needed, these early findings highlight a promising direction for non-invasive, user-friendly stress interventions in immersive technologies.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional)::

References:
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[2] K. Devendran, S. K. Thangarasu, P. Keerthika, R. Manjula Devi, and B. K. Ponnarasee, “Effective prediction on music therapy using hybrid SVM-ANN approach,” ITM Web Conf., vol. 37, p. 01014, 2021, doi: 10.1051/itmconf/20213701014.
[3] H. M. O. Ridder, B. Stige, L. G. Qvale, and C. Gold, “Individual music therapy for agitation in dementia: an exploratory randomized controlled trial,” Aging Ment. Health, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 667–678, 2013, doi: 10.1080/13607863.2013.790926.
[4] S. Nomura, K. Yoshimura, and Y. Kurosawa, “A pilot study on the effect of music-heart beat feedback system on human heart activity,” J. Med. Inform. Technol., vol. 22, no. null, pp. 251–256, 2013.
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