Examining the Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Mental Health

NCT06367439 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FN-10984
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 154
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this investigation is to examine the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) exercise (Supernatural exergaming via Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC) for improving well-being (i.e., vitality) over a 10-week period. The secondary purpose is to examine the efficacy of VR exercise for improving depression mood symptoms, anxiety mood symptoms, and perceived cognitive functioning over a 10-week period, as well as short-term mood (post-exercise) and affective experiences during exercise. The tertiarty purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of VR exercise for improving both physical activity behaviour and physical activity motivation (attitudes, capability, opportunity, intentions, behavioural regulation, habit, identity) over a 10-week period. Another tertiary purpose is to examine whether key motivational variables (e.g., attitudes, capability, opportunity, intentions, behavioural regulation, habit, identity) regarding Supernatural use explain variability in Supernatural use over time.

Conditions

Mental Health; Mood; Well-Being, Psychological; Physical Activity

Keywords

Virtual reality; Exergaming; Physical activity; Exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Well-being: subjective vitality

  Subjective vitality will be assessed using a six-item subjective vitality scale. Participants will respond to the six subjective vitality items on a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (not at all true) to 7 (very true). The six items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores reflecting higher subjective vitality and a more positive outcome.

  Baseline, week 5, week 10

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Depression and anxiety mood symptoms

  Baseline, week 5, week 10

• Perceived cognitive function

  Baseline, week 5, week 10

• Short-term Mood

  Pre (baseline) and post in-lab physical activity; through lab completion (2 hours).

• Core Affect Measure - Feeling Scale

  Baseline (pre exercise session), at ~3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total

• Core Affect Measure - Felt Arousal Scale

  Baseline (pre exercise session), ~ at 3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total

Other Outcomes (26)

• Perceived exertion

  ~3.5 minute intervals (post song) during exercise. 5 measurements total.

• Supernatural Target Accuracy

  Once during in-lab Supernatural orientation (tutorial workout), and after each of the five songs completed during the in-lab Supernatural workout.

• Attitude towards physical activity

  Baseline, week 5, week 10

Study Arms (2)

Virtual Reality Exercise Condition

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a virtual reality (VR) exercise tutorial (Supernatural gameplay) and a Supernatural affect measurement workout (Flow or Boxing) in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (UVic). The tutorial will include watching Supernatural YouTube instructional videos, then completing a Supernatural training (\~5-6 min), a 'getting started' low intensity Supernatural workout (\~3 min), a low intensity Supernatural workout (\~3 min), and a medium intensity Supernatural workout (\~3 min). Participants will then complete the affect measurement medium intensity Supernatural workout (18-20 min). Participants will be provided a Virtual Reality headset (i.e., Meta Quest 3 headset) equipped with a Supernatural account for 10 weeks and will be instructed to participate in 75 minutes of medium intensity Supernatural physical activity per week which is equivalent to 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (in line with the Canadian physical activity guidelines).

Behavioral: Virtual reality exercise condition

Waitlist Control Condition

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will complete a control treadmill walk/run exercise session in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (30 min) that emulates the lab-based Supernatural exercise session (intervention condition). The treadmill run/walk will be the comparison condition for examining the effects of Supernatural exercise on mood and affect. First, participants will complete a 10 min treadmill orientation where they will walk for 3 min at 3 mph, walk for 3 min at 3.5 mph, walk/jog for 3 min at 4 mph, and walk for 1 min at 3 mph. Participants will then complete a 19.5-20 min treadmill walk/jog where they will complete a 1 min warmup at 3 mph, walk/jog for 17.5 min at 4 mph. Participants will then be asked to continue as they are for 10 weeks and will have the opportunity to bring home the Meta Quest 3 headset equipped with Supernatural for 10 weeks post-study.

Interventions

Virtual reality exercise condition BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete a virtual reality exercise (i.e., Supernatural) tutorial (YouTube instruction and in-headset gameplay instruction/practice) and will complete a 18-20 minute affect measurement medium intensity virtual reality exercise (i.e., Supernatural) session in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (UVic).

Also known as: Baseline virtual reality exercise and measurement workout

Virtual Reality Exercise Condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 19-64
• Living in the Greater Victoria area
• Have a stable Wi-Fi connection at home
• Experience no health constraints that limit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation as identified by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ+).
• Currently participating in less than 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week (as per Canadian physical activity guidelines)
• Be willing to travel into the Behavioural Medicine Lab on the UVic campus
• Be the only member of their household to participate in the study, past or present

You may not qualify if:

• If participant is flagged by the PARQ+ and is not cleared to participate in physical activity by their physician they are ineligible to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Victoria: lead
• Meta Platforms, Inc.: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Behavioural Medicine Lab

Victoria, British Columbia, V8W3N4, Canada

Location

Related Publications (22)

• Borg, G. (1998). Borg's perceived exertion and pain scales. Human Kinetics.

  BACKGROUND

• Courneya, K. S. (1994). Predicting repeated behavior from intention: The issue of scale correspondence. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(7), 580-594. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1994.tb00601.x

  BACKGROUND

• Courneya KS, Jones LW, Rhodes RE, Blanchard CM. Effects of different combinations of intensity categories on self-reported exercise. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2004 Dec;75(4):429-33. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2004.10609176. No abstract available.

  PMID: 15673042 BACKGROUND

• Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised neo personality inventory and Neo Five-Factor Inventory. Research Psychologists Press.

  BACKGROUND

• Gardner B, Abraham C, Lally P, de Bruijn GJ. Towards parsimony in habit measurement: testing the convergent and predictive validity of an automaticity subscale of the Self-Report Habit Index. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012 Aug 30;9:102. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-102.

  PMID: 22935297 BACKGROUND

• Godin G, Shephard RJ. A simple method to assess exercise behavior in the community. Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1985 Sep;10(3):141-6.

  PMID: 4053261 BACKGROUND

• Hardy, C. J., & Rejeski, W. J. (1989). Not what, but how one feels: The measurement of affect during exercise. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11, 304-317.

  BACKGROUND

• IPAQ. (2004). International physical activity prevalence study environmental survey module. Retrieved August 10 from http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/sallis/IPAQIPS.pdf

  BACKGROUND

• Lithopoulos A, Zhang CQ, Williams DM, Rhodes RE. Development and Validation of a Two-component Perceived Control Measure. Ann Behav Med. 2023 Feb 4;57(2):175-184. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaac033.

  PMID: 35849341 BACKGROUND

• Rhodes RE, Courneya KS. Investigating multiple components of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived control: an examination of the theory of planned behaviour in the exercise domain. Br J Soc Psychol. 2003 Mar;42(Pt 1):129-46. doi: 10.1348/014466603763276162.

  PMID: 12713760 BACKGROUND

• Rhodes, R. E., & Courneya, K. S. (2004). Differentiating motivation and control in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 9(2), 205-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548500410001670726

  BACKGROUND

• Rhodes RE, Lithopoulos A. The Physical Activity Regulation Scale: Development and validity testing. Health Psychol. 2023 Jun;42(6):378-387. doi: 10.1037/hea0001283.

  PMID: 37227880 BACKGROUND

• Ryan RM, Frederick C. On energy, personality, and health: subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. J Pers. 1997 Sep;65(3):529-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00326.x.

  PMID: 9327588 BACKGROUND

• Spinella M. Self-rated executive function: development of the executive function index. Int J Neurosci. 2005 May;115(5):649-67. doi: 10.1080/00207450590524304.

  PMID: 15823930 BACKGROUND

• Svebak, S., & Murgatroyd, S. (1985). Metamotivational dominance: A multimethod validation of reversal theory constructs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48(1), 107-116.

  BACKGROUND

• Wilhelm, P., & Schoebi, D. (2007). Assessing mood in daily life: Structural validity, sensitivity to change, and reliability of a short-scale to measure three basic dimensions of mood. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 23(4), 258-267. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.23.4.258

  BACKGROUND

• Wilson, P. M., & Muon, S. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Exercise Identity Scale in a university sample. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 6(2), 115-131. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2008.9671857

  BACKGROUND

• Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983 Jun;67(6):361-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.

  PMID: 6880820 BACKGROUND

• Anderson DF, Cychosz CM. Development of an exercise identity scale. Percept Mot Skills. 1994 Jun;78(3 Pt 1):747-51. doi: 10.1177/003151259407800313.

  PMID: 8084685 BACKGROUND

• Bostic, T. J., Rubio, D. M., & Hood, M. (2000). A validation of the subjective vitality scale using structural equation modelling. Social Indicators Research, 52(3), 313-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.1977.tb01338.x

  BACKGROUND

• Cox A, Rhodes RE. Increasing Physical Activity in Empty Nest and Retired Populations Online: A Randomized Feasibility Study. J Aging Phys Act. 2023 Jun 1;31(6):909-922. doi: 10.1123/japa.2022-0285. Print 2023 Dec 1.

  PMID: 37263598 BACKGROUND

• Peres, S. C., Pham, T., & Phillips, R. (2013). Validation of the system usability scale (sus): SUS in the wild. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 1, 192-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931213571043

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Ryan Rhodes, PhD

  Lab Director and Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Single - Primary Investigator
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The study will utilize a 10-week, two-arm, single-blinded, waitlist control, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Healthy adults (19-64 years) from the Victoria community participating in less than 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week will be randomized to either the Supernatural (SN) condition or the wait-list control (WLC) condition for a 10-week period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2024
• First Posted: April 16, 2024
• Study Start: March 19, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 2, 2025
• Study Completion: July 11, 2025
• Last Updated: August 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

CA (1)