Specialists from Sechenov University, Russian University of Medicine, Moscow State University, and the Federal Research Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research conducted a study and for the first time identified what images people of different ages perceive as a safe space.
It was found that for people under 50, a sense of security is more often associated with open natural spaces. The older generation, on the contrary, chooses a house, a room, or a dacha. According to Tatiana Buzina, Head of the Department of General Psychology at RosUniMed, older respondents are almost four times more likely to choose images of “their personal space” than young people. Stability and a sense of shelter are important to them, which must be taken into account when creating relaxation programs for this audience.
Based on the data obtained, scientists plan to create thematic VR libraries that will help reduce anxiety and combat stress. The technology may become especially relevant for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and for those who cannot attend in-person psychotherapy. At the same time, experts emphasize that the use of VR therapy must take into account the individual characteristics of the patient and requires clinical verification of its effectiveness.