(PS12-90) Use of Virtual Reality (VR) to Improve Mental Outcomes of International Students

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has been used in healthcare to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, and counsel patients (Srivastava et al., 2014). It has also been employed in research to provide ecological validity and real-time data capture (Bell et al., 2020). However, its potential in helping international students adjust to college campuses and mitigate negative mental health outcomes remains unexplored. International students often experience depressive and anxiety symptoms, isolation, and academic stress (Lee et al., 2004; Mori, 2011; Han et al., 2012; Poyrazli, 2015). This study aims to investigate how using VR to create a familiar environment can impact stress and affect of international students.

Methods: Undergraduate international college students will be recruited for this study. They will provide demographic information, including zip codes in their home country. Eligible participants with accessible zip codes on Google Earth VR Street View will complete pre-test measures, including Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Multi-Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM). In the treatment condition, participants will use VR headsets to explore familiar areas around their hometown for two 10-minute sessions. Post-test measures, which include the PANAS and the PSS will be administered, and data will be analyzed for group differences and moderating effects.

Results: The study expects that visiting familiar locations via Google Earth VR will increase positive affect and decrease negative affect and stress for international students. It also anticipates that ethnic belongingness will moderate the relationship between VR use, affect, and stress. These findings will highlight VR's versatility in helping international students adapt to a new environment and ease their transition.

Implications: This study provides evidence that implementing VR on college campuses can mitigate adverse effects for international students by reducing stress and negative affect, potentially improving academic performance and retention rates. Google Earth via VR could also serve as a valuable tool in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, allowing practitioners to focus on cognitive and behavioral aspects while addressing affective symptoms.