Usage Matters: The Role of Frequency, Duration, and Experience in Presence Formation in Social Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study investigates how usage behaviors like frequency, session length, and experience influence the sense of presence in social VR, revealing that frequent and longer sessions enhance presence across multiple dimensions.

Contribution

It identifies behavioral predictors of presence in social VR, extending prior research beyond laboratory settings and informing design for more inclusive virtual environments.

Findings

Frequency and duration predict higher presence across dimensions.

Interaction effects show combined frequency and duration amplify presence.

Effects are consistent across age and gender.

Abstract

The sense of presence is central to immersive experiences in Virtual Reality (VR), and particularly salient in socially rich platforms like social VR. While prior studies have explored various aspects related to presence, less is known about how ongoing usage behaviors shape presence in everyday engagement. To address this gap, we examine whether usage intensity, captured through frequency of use, session duration, and years of VR experience, predicts presence in social VR. A survey of 295 users assessed overall, social, spatial, and self-presence using validated scales. Results show that both frequency and duration consistently predict higher presence across all dimensions, with interaction effects indicating that frequent and extended sessions synergistically amplify the experience of "being there." These effects were stable across age and gender. Our findings extend presence research beyond the laboratory by identifying behavioral predictors in social VR and offer insights for building inclusive environments that reliably foster presence.