Effects of VR and MR Exergaming on Mood and Executive Function During Workplace Microbreaks

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Exergame; Active Video Games (AVG); Mood State; Executive Function (Cognition)

• Registration Number: NCT06889597
• Lead Sponsor: Akdeniz University

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) exergaming interventions during workplace microbreaks on mood and executive functions. A crossover experimental design will be implemented with desk-based administrative employees. Participants will be randomly assigned to three conditions: VR exergaming, MR exergaming, and passive rest. Executive functions will be assessed using the PEBL Victoria Stroop Test, and mood state will be evaluated with the Positive Affect Subscale of PANAS (PA-PANAS). Secondary measures include heart rate, perceived exertion, and exercise adherence intention.The study will address the following research questions:

How do VR and MR exergames influence executive functions compared to passive rest? How do VR and MR exergames affect mood states in workers compared to passive rest? How do VR and MR exergames compare in terms of heart rate response and perceived exertion during workplace microbreaks? How do VR and MR exergames impact exercise enjoyment and the intention to continue exergaming?

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-03-10
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-17
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-21
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-13
• Primary Completion: 2025-06
• Study Completion: 2025-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 years and older
• No regular physical exercise in the last three months (less than three days per week, less than 30 minutes per session)
• No prior experience with VR/MR technologies
• No history of neurological or cardiovascular disorders
• No epilepsy, vertigo, or inner ear conditions
• No use of medications affecting the central nervous system
• Low or moderate physical activity levels, as assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
• Cleared for physical activity based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Exclusion Criteria

• High physical activity levels as indicated by the IPAQ
• Not meeting the safety criteria for physical activity according to the PAR-Q
• Individuals experiencing dizziness, nausea, or discomfort while using VR/MR
• Vision impairments that prevent the use of VR/MR headsets
• Pregnant individuals

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mood State	Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes after the session)	Participants' mood states will be assessed using the Positive Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). PANAS is a widely used self-report instrument designed to measure two distinct dimensions of affective states: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). However, in this study, only the PA subscale will be utilized. This decision is based on the study's focus on the short-term affective benefits of VR and MR exercise, as physical activity is predominantly linked to improvements in positive emotions rather than significant reductions in negative affect. Additionally, since negative emotions may not exhibit substantial changes in a single-session exercise context, analyzing only positive affect provides a clearer understanding of the intervention's psychological benefits.
Executive Functions	Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes after the session	Executive functions will be assessed using the PEBL Victoria Stroop Test. This test evaluates cognitive control, reaction time, and error rates in different experimental conditions. To eliminate learning effects, each participant will complete two practice trials before the experimental session. The test consists of three phases (1. Neutral words (words without color conflict), 2. Congruent words (words where the meaning matches the text color), 3.Incongruent words (words where the meaning differs from the text color).; Participants will be instructed to identify the color of the word as quickly and accurately as possible. Reaction times (in milliseconds) and error rates will be recorded.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Heart Rate	Baseline and during intervention	Heart rate will be measured using a Polar H10 chest strap sensor at two time points: pre-exercise and during the session. All HR data will be recorded in real time via the Polar Flow application. The HR measurements will be used to assess the physiological load of the exercise and compare differences across conditions.
Perceived Exertion	Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes after the session)	Subjective physical exertion will be evaluated using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale (6-20) before and after each session. This scale measures subjective physical effort perception and is widely used for assessing exercise intensity.
Intention to Continue	Immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes after the session)	Participants' intention to engage in VR and MR-based exercise in the future will be measured using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Not at all likely, 7 = Definitely will repeat). Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to continue using VR/MR-based exercise programs in the future. This outcome will help determine the long-term engagement potential of immersive exercise formats.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Akdeniz University; 🇹🇷 Konyaalti, Antalya, Turkey