"I Wanted to Create my Ideal Self": Exploring Avatar Perception of LGBTQ+ Users for Therapy in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study investigates how LGBTQ+ individuals perceive and prefer self-created avatars in VR therapy, showing that personalized avatars enhance user experience and physiological responses, supporting VR's therapeutic potential.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that allowing LGBTQ+ users to create their own avatars improves their VR therapy experience and physiological engagement.

Findings

Users prefer creating their own avatars for therapy.

Self-made avatars trend towards increased physiological response.

Initial support for personalized avatars in LGBTQ+ VR therapy.

Abstract

In this paper we explore the potential of utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) as a therapeutic tool for supporting individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, who often face elevated risks of mental health issues. Specifically, we investigated the effectiveness of using pre-existing avatars compared to allowing individuals to create their own avatars through a website, and their experience in a VR space when using these avatars. We conducted a user study (n=10) measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and gathering subjective feedback through semi-structured interviews conducted in VR. Avatar creation was facilitated using an online platform, and conversations took place within a two-user VR space developed in a commercially available VR application. Our findings suggest that users significantly prefer creating their own avatars in the context of therapy sessions, and while there was no statistically significant difference, there was a consistent trend of enhanced physiological response when using self-made avatars in VR. This study provides initial empirical support for the importance of custom avatar creation in utilizing VR for therapy within the LGBTQ+ community.