Neuroscientific and longitudinal analysis of the recovery role of virtual reality tourism

This thesis examines the potential of virtual reality (VR) tourism as a recovery strategy in the workplace through two complementary studies, one laboratory and one field study. The laboratory study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying the restorative effect of VR by directly measuring participants' brain activity and revealed how different types of VR (relaxing and adventure) affect relaxation and psychological detachment. Using subjective (questionnaire) and psychophysiological (electroencephalography) measurement techniques, the results showed that even a brief VR tourism experience can provide significant recovery effects. Relaxation was associated with increased alpha-band activity, while psychological detachment was associated with increased beta-band activity. The findings also revealed that highly immersive stimuli, such as adventure VR tourism, were more effective than relaxing VR and control VR content for psychological detachment from work stress (or everyday concerns). The field study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of VR tourism's restorative role—obtained in the controlled environment of the laboratory study—in a real work setting and especially to determine the duration of the positive psychological outcomes throughout the workday. Using the experience sampling method, employees' recovery levels were measured 4 times a day for a period of 10 days, and the effects of VR were compared to the effects of traditional work break activities. Results revealed that VR significantly increased psychological detachment and relaxation compared to traditional breaks, with benefits extending beyond the post-break moment and positively affecting recovery levels throughout the workday. Nonetheless, the restorative effects diminished over time, suggesting that the benefits of VR are short-lived. In conclusion, this study contributes to the literature by elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying VR-induced psychological recovery and assessing its applicability in real work settings. It also offers valuable practical implications for the application of VR technology as an innovative strategy to enhance employees' well-being at work.