Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42196708›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Experiences of Nature Through Immersive Virtual Reality Among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Monika Norberg, Elisabet Bohlin, Ann Dolling, Benno Krachler, Julia Elfving, Martin Gärdemalm, Kristina Lämås

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Monika NorbergDepartment of Nursing, Umea University, SE 901 87 Umea, Sweden.
Elisabet BohlinDepartment of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 901 83 Umeå, Sweden.
Ann DollingDepartment of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 901 83 Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-9590-7814
Benno KrachlerDepartment of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umea University, SE 901 87 Umea, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-4209-9999
Julia ElfvingLivsstilsmedicin Österåsen, Österås 306, SE 881 91 Sollefteå, Sweden.
Martin GärdemalmDepartment of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 901 83 Umeå, Sweden.
Kristina LämåsDepartment of Nursing, Umea University, SE 901 87 Umea, Sweden.

Funding

Interreg Aurora Programme NYPS 20358051
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study explores experiences of spending time in immersive virtual reality with a natural environment among individuals with type 2 diabetes, aiming to enhance perceived wellbeing and reduce perceived stress. Seventeen participants with type 2 diabetes took part in a multimodal lifestyle education program and used immersive virtual reality with natural environment over a six-month period, selecting from a number of 30 min serene natural environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants described immersive virtual reality with a natural environment experience as providing tranquility, inspiration, and a sense of transcending time and space (A). Feelings of calm and mental withdrawal from everyday demands were often reported (A2), and memories were evoked (A2). Some participants experienced these effects as extending beyond the immersive virtual reality with natural environment sessions themselves (A3-4). At the same time, several factors were identified that could disrupt the restorative experience (A5), including technical issues, individual preferences for specific environments, health- or situation-related constraints, and difficulties establishing a regular routine for headset use. Immersive virtual reality with natural environment was generally viewed as a valuable complement to real-world nature experiences, particularly for individuals with limited access to outdoor environments (B1-2). Overall, the findings suggest that immersive virtual reality with natural environment experiences may offer a supportive resource for enhancing emotional wellbeing and managing stress in people with type 2 diabetes, while not replacing the benefits of actual nature exposure.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2NatureVirtual RealityAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedStress, Psychologicalattention restoration theoryemotional wellbeingforest bathingimmersive virtual realitynature assisted therapynature-based interventionnature exposurequalitative methodstress reductiontype 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID42196708
PMCPMC13205989

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.