Effects of virtual reality blue-green spaces on human mental health: A systematic review

Despite the rapid urbanization and societal advancements, many urban residents confront stress and high pressure in their daily lives, giving rise to pressing public health concerns. Recent studies emphasize the positive effects of exposure to blue-green spaces. Further research is needed to determine if blue-green spaces in virtual reality (VR) technology also positively impacts human psychological well-being. This review conducts the comparative analysis of VR versus real-world environments, highlighting the merits of leveraging virtual blue-green spaces to investigate mental health outcomes. The results show that virtual blue-green spaces have a positive impact on mental health in general. For the heightened mental stress and recurrent public health threats, VR technology emerges as a promising tool for mental health enhancement. Notably, highly immersive VR technology amplifies the effects on mental health. Therefore, exploring the influence of virtual blue-green spaces on mental health holds substantial practical value, offering invaluable insights and guidance for future studies and implications.