Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights
Background: Occupational workers at altitudes are more prone to falls, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Acrophobia, height-related anxiety, and affected executive functions lead to postural instabilities, causing falls. This study investigated the effects of repeated virtual height exposure and tra...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Safety and Health at Work |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791123000410 |
| _version_ | 1797676272319463424 |
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| author | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Alireza Shojaei Adam C. Knight Aaron Griffith Reuben F. Burch Chih-Chia Chen |
| author_facet | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Alireza Shojaei Adam C. Knight Aaron Griffith Reuben F. Burch Chih-Chia Chen |
| author_sort | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Occupational workers at altitudes are more prone to falls, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Acrophobia, height-related anxiety, and affected executive functions lead to postural instabilities, causing falls. This study investigated the effects of repeated virtual height exposure and training on cognitive processing and height-related anxiety. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (age 20.48 ± 1.26 years; mass 69.52 ± 13.78 kg) were recruited and tested in seven virtual environments (VE) [ground (G), 2-story altitude (A1), 2-story edge (E1), 4-story altitude (A2), 4-story edge (E2), 6-story altitude (A3), and 6-story edge (E3)] over three days. At each VE, participants identified occupational hazards present in the VE and completed an Attitude Towards Heights Questionnaire (ATHQ) and a modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (mSTAIQ). The number of hazards identified and the ATHQ and mSTAIQ scores were analyzed using a 7 (VE; G, A1, A2, A3, E1, E2, E3) x 3 (DAY; DAY 1, DAY 2, DAY 3) factorial repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The participants identified the lowest number of hazards at A3 and E3 VEs and on DAY 1 compared to other VEs and DAYs. ATHQ scores were lowest at G, A1, and E1 VEs. Conclusion: Cognitive processing is negatively affected by virtual altitudes, while it improves with short-term training. The features of virtual reality, such as higher involvement, engagement, and reliability, make it a better training tool to be considered in ergonomic settings. The findings of this study will provide insights into cognitive dual-tasking at altitude and its challenges, which will aid in minimizing occupational falls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:26:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-254fd79960404cbba5b7e2028e820006 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2093-7911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:26:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Safety and Health at Work |
| spelling | doaj.art-254fd79960404cbba5b7e2028e8200062023-09-24T05:14:56ZengElsevierSafety and Health at Work2093-79112023-09-01143303308Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different HeightsSachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige0Harish Chander1Alana J. Turner2Alireza Shojaei3Adam C. Knight4Aaron Griffith5Reuben F. Burch6Chih-Chia Chen7Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA; Corresponding author. Dept 2805, 1435 Village Dr, Ogden, UT 84408-5150, USA.Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, MS, USA; Human Factors & Athlete Engineering, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University, MS, USADepartment of Kinesiology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USAMyers-Lawson School of Construction, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USADepartment of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, MS, USADepartment of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, MS, USAHuman Factors & Athlete Engineering, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University, MS, USA; Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, MS, USADepartment of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, MS, USABackground: Occupational workers at altitudes are more prone to falls, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Acrophobia, height-related anxiety, and affected executive functions lead to postural instabilities, causing falls. This study investigated the effects of repeated virtual height exposure and training on cognitive processing and height-related anxiety. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (age 20.48 ± 1.26 years; mass 69.52 ± 13.78 kg) were recruited and tested in seven virtual environments (VE) [ground (G), 2-story altitude (A1), 2-story edge (E1), 4-story altitude (A2), 4-story edge (E2), 6-story altitude (A3), and 6-story edge (E3)] over three days. At each VE, participants identified occupational hazards present in the VE and completed an Attitude Towards Heights Questionnaire (ATHQ) and a modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (mSTAIQ). The number of hazards identified and the ATHQ and mSTAIQ scores were analyzed using a 7 (VE; G, A1, A2, A3, E1, E2, E3) x 3 (DAY; DAY 1, DAY 2, DAY 3) factorial repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The participants identified the lowest number of hazards at A3 and E3 VEs and on DAY 1 compared to other VEs and DAYs. ATHQ scores were lowest at G, A1, and E1 VEs. Conclusion: Cognitive processing is negatively affected by virtual altitudes, while it improves with short-term training. The features of virtual reality, such as higher involvement, engagement, and reliability, make it a better training tool to be considered in ergonomic settings. The findings of this study will provide insights into cognitive dual-tasking at altitude and its challenges, which will aid in minimizing occupational falls.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791123000410ErgonomicFallsVirtual reality (VR) |
| spellingShingle | Sachini N.K. Kodithuwakku Arachchige Harish Chander Alana J. Turner Alireza Shojaei Adam C. Knight Aaron Griffith Reuben F. Burch Chih-Chia Chen Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights Safety and Health at Work Ergonomic Falls Virtual reality (VR) |
| title | Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights |
| title_full | Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights |
| title_fullStr | Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights |
| title_short | Physiological and Subjective Measures of Anxiety with Repeated Exposure to Virtual Construction Sites at Different Heights |
| title_sort | physiological and subjective measures of anxiety with repeated exposure to virtual construction sites at different heights |
| topic | Ergonomic Falls Virtual reality (VR) |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791123000410 |
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