Background: Immersive technologies may be an avenue to explore the construct of human–nature connection more thoroughly and without some of the obstacles to accessing nature in-person. Purpose: The aim of this project was to discover if self-exposure to immersive virtual nature can lead to any change in nature connectedness. Methodology/Approach: Participants were recruited from the Texas State University campus and randomized into three experimental conditions: a filmed library or nature experience, and an in-nature experience. 360-degree videos of a nature preserve and the university library were projected within a head-mounted display in a laboratory setting. Results of pre- and postsurvey data were compared between experimental groups. Findings/Conclusions: Pairwise comparisons with the Nature Relatedness Scale indicated that participants in the in-nature experience reported significantly stronger beliefs about their connection to nature than those in either virtual condition. With respect to the State of Independence with Nature Scale, planned pairwise comparisons indicated that between participants in the in-nature experience and the virtual nature experience did not differ. Implications: This study suggests that to connect with nature, one should spend time there. In addition, here data support that a virtual immersive nature experience can affect a state-dependent measurement of nature connection, and even equal that of an in-nature experience.

背景：身临其境的技术可能是更彻底地探索人与自然之间关系的一种途径，而不会遇到一些亲身接触自然的障碍。目的：该项目的目的是发现自我暴露于沉浸式虚拟自然中是否会导致自然连通性的任何变化。方法/方法：参与者从德克萨斯州立大学的校园中招募，并随机分为三个实验条件：电影图书馆或自然体验以及自然体验。在实验室环境中的头戴式显示器上投影了自然保护区和大学图书馆的360度视频。比较实验组之间调查前和调查后数据的结果。结果/结论：与自然相关性量表的成对比较表明，参加自然体验的参与者对自己与自然的联系的信念比在任何一种虚拟条件下的信念都强得多。关于自然独立状态量表，按计划的成对比较表明，参加大自然体验和虚拟自然体验的参与者之间没有差异。启示：这项研究表明，与大自然建立联系，应该在大自然中度过时光。此外，这里的数据支持虚拟的沉浸式自然体验会影响与状态有关的自然连接度量，甚至等同于自然体验的度量。