In too deep? A systematic literature review of fully‐immersive virtual reality and cybersickness among older adults

Background Virtual reality technology holds great promise in improving the health and well‐being of older adults; however, this technology is associated with potential risks that may outweigh the benefits. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize and critique the existing literature on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2023-12, Vol.71 (12), p.3906-3915
Main Authors: Drazich, Brittany F., McPherson, Rachel, Gorman, Emily F., Chan, Thomas, Teleb, Jejomar, Galik, Elizabeth, Resnick, Barbara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Computer applications
cybersickness
Elder care
Humans
immersive
Literature reviews
motion‐sickness
older adults
Older people
Questionnaires
Surveys and Questionnaires
technology
Virtual Reality
Well being
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Summary:Background Virtual reality technology holds great promise in improving the health and well‐being of older adults; however, this technology is associated with potential risks that may outweigh the benefits. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize and critique the existing literature on fully‐immersive virtual reality interventions for older adults and the associated risk of cybersickness. Methods We searched eight databases for studies that utilized fully‐immersive virtual reality, stated the population as older adults, provided outcomes related to cybersickness, and were written or translated into the English language. Our search generated 332 articles, 39 of which were selected for inclusion in this systematic synthesis and appraisal. Results We found that the majority of studies utilized a one‐time session. The studies generally had weak sample generalizability and methodological design, but strong data collection and participant retention. The studies nearly all used the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire to measure cybersickness, but the scoring for the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire varied or was not mentioned. Most included studies reported only minor cybersickness among older adult participants. Conclusion Researchers might conclude that the benefits of virtual reality interventions outweigh the risk of cybersickness in this population. Going forward, researchers should concentrate on the efficacy of virtual reality interventions among older adults, using larger samples and randomized controlled study design, along with measuring dosage effects.
ISSN:0002-8614
1532-5415
DOI:10.1111/jgs.18553