Exploring the Mental Health of Virtual Soundscape: A Systematic Review

This systematic review explores the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in soundscape research and its impact on mental health. It also compares virtual soundscapes with real-world soundscapes. We followed the PRISMA guidelines to examine publications in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, ultimately identifying 27 articles closely related to our research. Our review shows that the VR soundscape can provide restorative benefits similar to real-world natural settings. The VR technology enhances soundscape research by enabling precise manipulation of acoustic parameters and offers a more immersive experience than traditional monitors (e.g., complex and dynamic situations in reality). The review underscores the individual differences of virtual soundscapes on mental health, such as the restoration of older adults and patients. However, VR technology still falls short of fully replicating the multisensory richness of real-world environments, which may limit its restorative potential. Despite these challenges, VR technology presents valuable opportunities for the healthy environmental design of game space and short videos by enabling innovative soundscape simulations. Future research should focus on addressing technical limitations and implications of VR soundscape, such as real-time audio performance and sound transmission, which contribute to the realism and effectiveness of virtual soundscapes in enhancing mental well-being.