research-article

Nature vs. Stress: Investigating the Use of Biophilia in Non-Violent Exploration Games to Reduce Stress

Authors:

Deltcho Valtchanov,

Michael Barnett-Cowan,

James R. WallaceAuthors Info & Claims

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

Article No.: 247, Pages 1 - 13

https://doi.org/10.1145/3474674

Published: 06 October 2021 Publication History

Abstract

Games hold the potential to help many address health-related issues such as chronic stress. We investigated the use of biophilia, an affective response to nature grounded in the psychology literature, as indirect physiological input for biofeedback games. We designed and developed a non-violent exploration game, and conducted an empirical study that examined affective and physiological responses to gameplay in virtual nature and urban settings. Our results did not identify a difference in stress levels experienced by players between these two settings, but point to improved attention when playing in nature settings. We discuss implications of these findings, and discuss both difficulties in and potential future strategies for applying biophilia to the design of biofeedback games.

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Cited By

Galvão-Ferreira PFearns VNunes NNisi V(2024)Posthumanist Care and Ecologies of Empathy: Investigating Design Potentials for Nature:Culture HCIProceedings of the 27th International Academic Mindtrek Conference10.1145/3681716.3681731(81-94)Online publication date: 8-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3681716.3681731
Haliburton LPirker BHolinski PSchmidt AWozniak PHoppe M(2023)VR-Hiking: Physical Exertion Benefits Mindfulness and Positive Emotions in Virtual RealityProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36042637:MHCI(1-17)Online publication date: 13-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3604263
Webber SKelly RWadley GSmith W(2023)Engaging with Nature through Technology: A Scoping Review of HCI ResearchProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3581534(1-18)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581534
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Nature vs. Stress: Investigating the Use of Biophilia in Non-Violent Exploration Games to Reduce Stress
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. Empirical studies in HCI

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cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

CHI PLAY

September 2021

1535 pages

EISSN:2573-0142

DOI:10.1145/3490463

Editors:
Kathrin Gerling
KU Leuven
,
Elisa Mekler
Aalto University
,
Regan Mandryk
University of Saskatchewan

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 2021 ACM.

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Publication History

Published: 06 October 2021

Published in PACMHCI Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

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Cited By

Galvão-Ferreira PFearns VNunes NNisi V(2024)Posthumanist Care and Ecologies of Empathy: Investigating Design Potentials for Nature:Culture HCIProceedings of the 27th International Academic Mindtrek Conference10.1145/3681716.3681731(81-94)Online publication date: 8-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3681716.3681731
Haliburton LPirker BHolinski PSchmidt AWozniak PHoppe M(2023)VR-Hiking: Physical Exertion Benefits Mindfulness and Positive Emotions in Virtual RealityProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36042637:MHCI(1-17)Online publication date: 13-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3604263
Webber SKelly RWadley GSmith W(2023)Engaging with Nature through Technology: A Scoping Review of HCI ResearchProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3581534(1-18)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581534
Spors VLaato SBuruk OHamari J(2023)Longing to be the Mountain: A Scoping Review about Nature-Centric, Health-Minded TechnologiesProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3581479(1-16)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3544548.3581479
Yannakakis GMelhart D(2023)Affective Game Computing: A SurveyProceedings of the IEEE10.1109/JPROC.2023.3315689111:10(1423-1444)Online publication date: Oct-2023
https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2023.3315689

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