In a recent study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, researchers from the University of British Columbia explored how virtual reality (VR) erotica affects women’s anxiety levels. This first-of-its-kind study found that women experienced an increase in anxiety after viewing sexual films in VR compared to 2D films, especially when the VR films presented a first-person perspective.
Previous studies have established the efficacy of VR-based treatments for anxiety disorders, yet little was known about how VR could be applied to address sexual difficulties. Given the pivotal role of anxiety in several sexual concerns, the potential for VR to serve as a therapeutic tool in this area is significant. This study aimed to fill the void by investigating how VR erotica, specifically content that is women-centred and of high quality, influences women’s anxiety levels in simulated sexual scenarios.
The study enrolled 46 women, with 38 completing the study, who were recruited through the University of British Columbia’s Human Subject Pool. The study utilized a mixed-methods design involving both 2D and VR videos to present erotic content as well as neutral videos depicting nature scenes. The erotic videos were carefully selected to focus on women’s pleasure, avoiding any depiction of violence, bondage, or dominance, and were sourced from companies known for ethical production practices.
The VR experience was facilitated using Oculus Quest VR headsets, providing a 360-degree immersive environment with high-resolution visuals and audio. Participants viewed the content from both first-person and third-person perspectives, with the first-person viewpoint intended to simulate the experience of being an active participant in the scene.
To measure the impact of the VR erotica, the study employed two key instruments. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), a shortened version of a widely used anxiety assessment tool, was administered before and after viewing each video to gauge changes in state-level anxiety. Additionally, the Subjective Sexual Presence Scale (SSPS) was used following each film to assess the participants’ sense of sexual presence, measuring their emotional, motivational, and physical responses to the erotic stimuli.
Participants reported experiencing an increase in anxiety levels after viewing all types of films. However, a significant distinction emerged between the responses to VR and 2D formats. Specifically, women exhibited greater elevations in state-level anxiety after viewing VR films compared to 2D films. This effect was particularly pronounced for VR content viewed from a first-person perspective. Women also reported higher levels of sexual presence when watching VR erotica compared to 2D films.
However, the researchers noted that “some participants chose to share with the researchers that they were not physically attracted to the actor in the VR 1st POV film and found that the increased realism in this video amplified their lack of attraction to the character, which could have indirectly increased their self-reported anxiety.”
But the increases in anxiety after viewing VR films were not especially large. For VR videos, the mean increase in anxiety was 2.61 on the STAI-6 scale, compared to an increase of 1.45 points for 2D videos. The anxiety scores were measured on a scale ranging from 6 to 24.
The findings have important implications for Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET), a method that immerses patients in simulated environments to expose them to their fears in a controlled manner, which has shown promise across various phobias and anxieties. VRET could be a promising treatment option for conditions like vaginismus, a fear-based sexual dysfunction characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles.
“When conducting real-life exposure therapy with individuals with Specific Phobias, the clinician works collaboratively with the client to create a fear hierarchy that provides a framework for treatment,” the researchers explained. “The client will begin at the bottom of the hierarchy with exposures that elicit low levels of fear, and after the client is able to tolerate this distress, or their fear habituates with prolonged exposure and repetition, they will move up the hierarchy to more difficult exposures.”
In the case of vaginismus, a VRET program could strategically sequence the exposure to erotic stimuli, beginning with less immersive 2D content and gradually progressing to more engaging VR experiences. This structured approach ensures that patients are not overwhelmed early in therapy, fostering a therapeutic environment conducive to overcoming fear-based sexual dysfunctions.
“Our findings constitute one of the first steps in the future exploration of VR erotica’s potential usability as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions (e.g., Vaginismus),” the researchers concluded.
The study, “Exploring Women’s State-Level Anxiety in Response to Virtual Reality Erotica,” was authored by Natalie B. Brown, Sonia Milani, Faith Jabs, Alan Kingstone, and Lori A. Brotto.
