Effects of Self-Avatars in Virtual Reality-Based Reminiscence Therapy

Abstract

Reminiscence therapy (RT), a widely used intervention that encourages individuals to recall past experiences, has proven effective in addressing the mental health issues of aging society. Virtual reality (VR) enhances the benefits of RT by creating immersive environments that deepen engagement with personal memories. However, most studies have focused on the effects of virtual scenery, leaving the potential impact of self-avatars - known to significantly influence users' experiences in VR - largely unexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating the role of self-avatars in VR-based RT (VR-RT) through two experiments. Experiment 1 revealed that the presence of self-avatars tends to improve specificity of recalled event and significantly enhances cognitive functions. Experiment 2 showed that participants using child avatars recalled events with significantly greater specificity.