ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

Traditional technology-based approaches to mental well-being, such as guided meditation and mindfulness apps, have primarily relied on passive, presence-driven experiences with limited physical engagement. While effective in stress reduction and emotional regulation, these methods lack the dynamic and interactive components that immersive technologies can provide. This study explores how immersive virtual reality (VR) enhances mental well-being through embodied interactivity (users' physical engagement with the virtual environment) and environmental embeddedness (users' perceptual immersion within the virtual environment). These technological features enable somatic engagement by aligning what the body does (interactivity) with where the body perceives itself to be (embeddedness). Drawing on attention restoration theory and stress reduction theory, we examine how these features shape key perceptions of the virtual environment-fascination, coherence, and compatibility-which, in turn, facilitate cognitive and affective restoration. Our findings demonstrate that embodied interactivity and environmental embeddedness significantly enhance users' perceptions of the virtual environment, promoting deeper restoration and improved mental well-being. By shifting the focus from passive presence to active, somatic engagement, this study advances the understanding of how immersive VR can be designed to enhance restorative benefits.

키워드