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  • 2024SangeethaNeerajaBabuManoharanPhD

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Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

Unpublished

Standard

Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing. / Babu Manoharan, Sangeetha Neeraja.
Lancaster University, 2024. 435 p.

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

Harvard

APA

Babu Manoharan, S. N. (2024). Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing. [Doctoral Thesis, Lancaster University]. Lancaster University. https://doi.org/10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2591

Vancouver

Babu Manoharan SN. Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing. Lancaster University, 2024. 435 p. doi: 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2591

Author

Babu Manoharan, Sangeetha Neeraja. / Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing. Lancaster University, 2024. 435 p.

Bibtex

@phdthesis{7e29bede5fa84610b9e4f61b3e922096,
title = "Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing",
abstract = "With increased longevity, some older adults, as they get frailer and older, are likely to face mobility issues and other health challenges, which might limit their out-of-home activities. Immersive VR simulates an alternate 3-dimensional virtual environment, which mirrors the real environment in many ways. The environments where older adults age are vital for their wellbeing. Therefore, the theme of this PhD research was to explore the potential impact of immersive VR on the wellbeing of older adults living in their own homes and supported care environments with impairments connected to ageing. In this context, immersive VR was conceived as a new environment. The studies examined how older adults perceived and interacted with the VR environment and the implications and impact it could have on their wellbeing using the Person-Environment (P-E) lens of environmental gerontology and allied concepts. The corpus of this research is divided into four studies. Firstly, a realist review of the literature examined what type of VR intervention works for whom, in what particular context and how that could improve older adults{\textquoteright} wellbeing. Secondly, a mixed method study using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale and interviews identified and examined factors and themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards technology and, consequently, their wellbeing. Thirdly, a qualitative study using interviews identified and examined the themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards immersive VR and, consequently, their wellbeing. Fourthly, the feasibility of immersive VR as an appropriate intervention for improving the wellbeing of older adults at home was examined by identifying facilitators and barriers to support the design of a larger future evaluation. The exploration using the P-E lens and allied concepts found that VR has a clear potential to be a new environment for ageing, contributing towards older adults{\textquoteright} wellbeing.",
keywords = "Virtual Reality, VR, Immersive Virtual Reality environments, Older Adults, Wellbeing, Environments of ageing, P-E lens of environmental gerontology, virtual worlds",
author = "{Babu Manoharan}, {Sangeetha Neeraja}",
year = "2024",
month = dec,
day = "16",
doi = "10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2591",
language = "English",
publisher = "Lancaster University",
school = "Lancaster University",

}

RIS

TY - BOOK

T1 - Exploring the potential impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) on older adults' wellbeing

AU - Babu Manoharan, Sangeetha Neeraja

PY - 2024/12/16

Y1 - 2024/12/16

N2 - With increased longevity, some older adults, as they get frailer and older, are likely to face mobility issues and other health challenges, which might limit their out-of-home activities. Immersive VR simulates an alternate 3-dimensional virtual environment, which mirrors the real environment in many ways. The environments where older adults age are vital for their wellbeing. Therefore, the theme of this PhD research was to explore the potential impact of immersive VR on the wellbeing of older adults living in their own homes and supported care environments with impairments connected to ageing. In this context, immersive VR was conceived as a new environment. The studies examined how older adults perceived and interacted with the VR environment and the implications and impact it could have on their wellbeing using the Person-Environment (P-E) lens of environmental gerontology and allied concepts. The corpus of this research is divided into four studies. Firstly, a realist review of the literature examined what type of VR intervention works for whom, in what particular context and how that could improve older adults’ wellbeing. Secondly, a mixed method study using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale and interviews identified and examined factors and themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards technology and, consequently, their wellbeing. Thirdly, a qualitative study using interviews identified and examined the themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards immersive VR and, consequently, their wellbeing. Fourthly, the feasibility of immersive VR as an appropriate intervention for improving the wellbeing of older adults at home was examined by identifying facilitators and barriers to support the design of a larger future evaluation. The exploration using the P-E lens and allied concepts found that VR has a clear potential to be a new environment for ageing, contributing towards older adults’ wellbeing.

AB - With increased longevity, some older adults, as they get frailer and older, are likely to face mobility issues and other health challenges, which might limit their out-of-home activities. Immersive VR simulates an alternate 3-dimensional virtual environment, which mirrors the real environment in many ways. The environments where older adults age are vital for their wellbeing. Therefore, the theme of this PhD research was to explore the potential impact of immersive VR on the wellbeing of older adults living in their own homes and supported care environments with impairments connected to ageing. In this context, immersive VR was conceived as a new environment. The studies examined how older adults perceived and interacted with the VR environment and the implications and impact it could have on their wellbeing using the Person-Environment (P-E) lens of environmental gerontology and allied concepts. The corpus of this research is divided into four studies. Firstly, a realist review of the literature examined what type of VR intervention works for whom, in what particular context and how that could improve older adults’ wellbeing. Secondly, a mixed method study using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale and interviews identified and examined factors and themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards technology and, consequently, their wellbeing. Thirdly, a qualitative study using interviews identified and examined the themes that could impact older adults' attitudes towards immersive VR and, consequently, their wellbeing. Fourthly, the feasibility of immersive VR as an appropriate intervention for improving the wellbeing of older adults at home was examined by identifying facilitators and barriers to support the design of a larger future evaluation. The exploration using the P-E lens and allied concepts found that VR has a clear potential to be a new environment for ageing, contributing towards older adults’ wellbeing.

KW - Virtual Reality

KW - VR

KW - Immersive Virtual Reality environments

KW - Older Adults

KW - Wellbeing

KW - Environments of ageing

KW - P-E lens of environmental gerontology

KW - virtual worlds

U2 - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2591

DO - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2591

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

PB - Lancaster University

ER -