The purpose of this study is to examine whether repeated exposure to an active shooter or target practice virtual reality (VR) scenario alters physiological and psychological stress responses over time. Specifically, this study will determine whether the pattern and magnitude of stress habituation differ between the two VR conditions.
This study examines the effects of repeated virtual reality (VR) exposure on physiological and psychological stress responses by comparing an active shooter scenario with a target practice scenario. Repeated exposure to a stressor may result in changes in physiological and psychological responses over time, a process known as stress habituation. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine whether repeated exposure to these two VR scenarios results in different patterns of stress habituation. Heart rate, salivary stress biomarkers, and self-reported anxiety will be assessed across repeated VR exposures to evaluate changes in stress responses over time. The findings from this research may provide insight into how stress responses change with repeated exposure to different types of VR scenarios and may inform the development of training approaches for individuals in high-stress occupations.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
50
Participants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting \~3 minutes. Participants took on the roll of a law enforcement officer responding to an active shooter situation in a gas station (trial 1), home (trial 2), and school (trial 3).
Participants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting \~3 minutes. Participants had two trials of target practice training and one trial of an active shooter scenario where they responded as a law enforcement officer in a school.
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas, United States
State Anxiety Inventory (SAI)
The SAI is a 6 question survey on a 24 point scale, asking the subject to record how they feel. Questions asked were "I am calm," I am tense," "I am worried," "I am relaxed," etc. Subjects were asked to fill this out 4 times throughout the study, alongside HR and saliva samples.
Time frame: Timepoint 1-4 were 20 minutes pre, immediately pre, immediately post, and 15 minutes post
Heart Rate
Heart rate was recorded immediately prior to each saliva sample using a Polar Verity Sense heart rate wrist/arm strap.
Time frame: HR was recorded 4 times, before each saliva sample period
Secretory Immunoglobulin-A
SIgA is a marker of immune function and salivary SIgA concentrations tend to increase when exposed to stress
Time frame: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
Salivary Alpha Amylase
sAA is an enzyme involved in digestive processes. Amylase concentrations in saliva have been shown to reflect sympathetic stress. Thus, as sympathetic stress increases, salivary amylase concentrations tend to increase.
Time frame: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
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