Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 17;13(1):11517. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38499-7.
We set out to test whether positive non-verbal behaviours of a virtual coach can enhance people's engagement in automated virtual reality therapy. 120 individuals scoring highly for fear of heights participated. In a two-by-two factor, between-groups, randomised design, participants met a virtual coach that varied in warmth of facial expression (with/without) and affirmative nods (with/without). The virtual coach provided a consultation about treating fear of heights. Participants rated the therapeutic alliance, treatment credibility, and treatment expectancy. Both warm facial expressions (group difference = 7.44 [3.25, 11.62], p = 0.001, [Formula: see text]=0.10) and affirmative nods (group difference = 4.36 [0.21, 8.58], p = 0.040, [Formula: see text] = 0.04) by the virtual coach independently increased therapeutic alliance. Affirmative nods increased the treatment credibility (group difference = 1.76 [0.34, 3.11], p = 0.015, [Formula: see text] = 0.05) and expectancy (group difference = 2.28 [0.45, 4.12], p = 0.015, [Formula: see text] = 0.05) but warm facial expressions did not increase treatment credibility (group difference = 0.64 [- 0.75, 2.02], p = 0.363, [Formula: see text] = 0.01) or expectancy (group difference = 0.36 [- 1.48, 2.20], p = 0.700, [Formula: see text] = 0.001). There were no significant interactions between head nods and facial expressions in the occurrence of therapeutic alliance (p = 0.403, [Formula: see text] = 0.01), credibility (p = 0.072, [Formula: see text] = 0.03), or expectancy (p = 0.275, [Formula: see text] = 0.01). Our results demonstrate that in the development of automated VR therapies there is likely to be therapeutic value in detailed consideration of the animations of virtual coaches.
我们着手测试虚拟教练的积极非言语行为是否可以提高人们对自动化虚拟现实治疗的参与度。 120 名高分恐惧高空的人参加了研究。在一项两因素两因素、组间随机设计中，参与者遇到了一个表情温暖（有/无）和肯定点头（有/无）的虚拟教练。虚拟教练提供了有关治疗恐高症的咨询。参与者对治疗联盟、治疗可信度和治疗期望进行了评分。虚拟教练的温暖表情（组间差异= 7.44 [3.25, 11.62]，p = 0.001，[Formula: see text] = 0.10）和肯定点头（组间差异= 4.36 [0.21, 8.58]，p = 0.040，[Formula: see text] = 0.04）均可独立增加治疗联盟。肯定的点头增加了治疗可信度（组间差异= 1.76 [0.34, 3.11]，p = 0.015，[Formula: see text] = 0.05）和期望（组间差异= 2.28 [0.45, 4.12]，p = 0.015，[Formula: see text] = 0.05），但温暖的面部表情并未增加治疗可信度（组间差异= 0.64 [-0.75, 2.02]，p = 0.363，[Formula: see text] = 0.01）或期望（组间差异= 0.36 [-1.48, 2.20]，p = 0.700，[Formula: see text] = 0.001）。在治疗联盟（p = 0.403，[Formula: see text] = 0.01）、可信度（p = 0.072，[Formula: see text] = 0.03）或期望（p = 0.275，[Formula: see text] = 0.01）方面，头点头和面部表情之间没有显著的相互作用。我们的研究结果表明，在自动化 VR 治疗的发展过程中，详细考虑虚拟教练的动画可能具有治疗价值。
