A small randomized cross-over trial suggests real forest exposure may reduce perceived stress more than a carefully designed virtual forest for highly sensitive adults.
Real forest time stood out. Virtual nature still mattered. The comparison was controlled.
Quick summary
- What the study found: In Spending time in a forest vs. a virtual forest simulation: qualitative and quantitative effects on stress perception and psychological wellbeing in a randomized cross-over trial of highly sensitive persons., real forest exposure showed stronger stress and wellbeing gains than virtual forest exposure.
- Why it matters: Many people use nature, screens, or immersive media to calm down. This study helps separate real outdoor exposure from a high-quality simulation.
- What to be careful about: The sample was small, focused on highly sensitive persons, and measured short-term, mostly subjective outcomes.
Real trees scored better than a simulated forest
This paper studied 49 highly sensitive persons who each experienced two 40-minute sessions: an authentic forest environment and a 360-degree virtual forest shown through a head-mounted display.
The virtual session was not plain video. It also included natural forest sounds and essential spruce oil diffusion, making it a richer simulation than screen viewing alone.
Both conditions were assessed for changes in subjective self-perception, wellbeing, and stress. The authentic forest showed greater stress reduction and stronger gains in vitality, intrapsychic balance, and vigilance.
Why the real setting may have felt different
Qualitative responses pointed to three broad ingredients: physical environmental context, emotional space, and sensory stimulation. In plain terms, the real forest offered a body-in-place experience.
The virtual forest provided visual and auditory immersion. But the paper describes it as lacking full physical integration into a living ecosystem.
That distinction matters. A forest is not only scenery. It includes air, temperature, movement, space, ground underfoot, and the sense of being surrounded.
What this means for everyday stress routines
Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, means deliberately spending time in a forest atmosphere. For readers, the practical message is modest.
That could mean a slow walk, sitting under trees, or taking a quiet break in a park. The paper does not test dose, frequency, or long-term habits.
Virtual nature may still be useful when real access is limited. It may offer calming sensory input, especially where weather, mobility, time, or location make outdoor visits difficult.
Keep the takeaway gentle, not clinical
The study focused on highly sensitive persons, often shortened to HSP. That term describes people who report stronger sensitivity to sensory and emotional input.
This does not mean the same size of effect applies to everyone. It also does not mean forest exposure treats anxiety, depression, burnout, or trauma.
Use this as a wellbeing clue, not a prescription. Nature time can support a calmer day, but it should not replace professional care when care is needed.
What remains unclear before changing advice
The trial was small, with 49 participants. The outcomes were largely subjective, meaning they relied on participants’ reports of perceived stress, self-perception, and wellbeing.
The effects also appear short-term. The abstract does not show whether benefits lasted hours, days, or weeks after either forest condition.
The careful takeaway is simple. A real forest may have added calming value over a vivid virtual forest, at least for highly sensitive adults in this trial.