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Cited by 56Virtual Reality Applications and ImpactsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesDigital Mental Health Interventions

Re-examining psychological mechanisms underlying virtual reality-based exposure for spider phobia

Tardif, Noémie, Therrien, Charles-Étienne, Bouchard, Stéphane·2019·Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking
DOI 10.1089/cyber.2017.0711
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Abstract

The proposed study aims at expanding results from a previous study on mechanisms of change after exposure in virtual reality (VR) and documenting the impact of adding tactile and haptic feedback. It was predicted that change in the severity of spider phobia according to the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) would be significantly predicted by change in dysfunctional beliefs toward spiders and self-efficacy, over and above the variance explained by a physiological measure of fear during exposure (heart rate) and presence during the immersion. Participants (N = 59) were randomly assigned to the presentation of visual stimuli only, visual plus tactile stimuli, or visual, tactile plus haptic feedback stimuli. A standard multiple regression was conducted to predict change on the FSQ using the following predictors: beliefs about spiders, beliefs about one's own behavior when facing spiders, perceived self-efficacy, disgust, presence, and heart rate. Only changes in beliefs about spiders and in perceived self-efficacy significantly predicted the reduction in fear of spiders. This result enhances our understanding of the mechanisms involved in exposure conducted in VR. Analyses of variance also show that participants reported statistically significant changes in their clinical condition, with little added value to the addition of tactile and haptic feedback. The advantages of tactile and haptic stimulation are questioned, at least in the context of only one brief exposure session and the equipment used.

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  • Although presence is linked to the anxiety experienced during exposure, there is no direct relationship between sense of presence and treatment outcomes.

    “In terms of treatment efficacy, research has also suggested that, although presence is linked to the anxiety experienced during the exposure, there is no direct relationship between sense of presence and treatment outcomes (Price et al., 2011; Price and Anderson, 2007; Tardif et al., 2019).”

    From An Internet-based treatment for Flying Phobia using 360° images: Study protocol for a feasibility pilot study (2021) · cites this paper as Tardif et al., 2019

  • Early research suggested that tactile augmentation of VRET increases the sense of presence, perceived realism, and led to better treatment outcomes, but subsequent research has failed to replicate these findings.

    “Although early research suggested that tactile augmentation of VRET increases the sense of presence, perceived realism, and led to better treatment outcomes [49], subsequent research has failed to replicate these findings [50], leaving an open question to be examined in future research.”

    From Experiences of gamified and automated virtual reality exposure therapy for spider phobia: qualitative study (2020) · cites this paper as [50]

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Authors
Tardif, N., Therrien, C.-É., & Bouchard, S.
Affiliations
Université du Québec en Outaouais (CA)
Corresponding author
Bouchard, Stéphane
ORCID
Bouchard, Stéphane
Venue
Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2019-01
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
39-45
ISSN
  • 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
  • 2152-2723
DOI
10.1089/cyber.2017.0711
OpenAlex
W2894225077
Cited by
56
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
FWCI
7.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
spider phobia, virtual reality exposure therapy, mechanisms of change, dysfunctional attitudes, self-efficacy, haptic feedback, tactile feedback, heart rate, presence, disgust
MeSH terms
Animals, Fear, Heart Rate, Humans, Phobic Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, Spiders, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

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