Examining the Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Mental Health (UVIC VR Fit)

August 5, 2025 updated by: University of Victoria

Examining the Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Mental Health Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The primary purpose of this investigation is to examine the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) exercise (Supernatural exergaming via Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC) for improving well-being (i.e., vitality) over a 10-week period. The secondary purpose is to examine the efficacy of VR exercise for improving depression mood symptoms, anxiety mood symptoms, and perceived cognitive functioning over a 10-week period, as well as short-term mood (post-exercise) and affective experiences during exercise. The tertiarty purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of VR exercise for improving both physical activity behaviour and physical activity motivation (attitudes, capability, opportunity, intentions, behavioural regulation, habit, identity) over a 10-week period. Another tertiary purpose is to examine whether key motivational variables (e.g., attitudes, capability, opportunity, intentions, behavioural regulation, habit, identity) regarding Supernatural use explain variability in Supernatural use over time.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

154

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • British Columbia
      • Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W3N4
        • Behavioural Medicine Lab

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 19-64
  • Living in the Greater Victoria area
  • Have a stable Wi-Fi connection at home
  • Experience no health constraints that limit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity participation as identified by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ+).
  • Currently participating in less than 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week (as per Canadian physical activity guidelines)
  • Be willing to travel into the Behavioural Medicine Lab on the UVic campus
  • Be the only member of their household to participate in the study, past or present

Exclusion Criteria:

  • If participant is flagged by the PARQ+ and is not cleared to participate in physical activity by their physician they are ineligible to participate
  • Does not meet any of the above inclusion criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Waitlist Control Condition
Participants will complete a control treadmill walk/run exercise session in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (30 min) that emulates the lab-based Supernatural exercise session (intervention condition). The treadmill run/walk will be the comparison condition for examining the effects of Supernatural exercise on mood and affect. First, participants will complete a 10 min treadmill orientation where they will walk for 3 min at 3 mph, walk for 3 min at 3.5 mph, walk/jog for 3 min at 4 mph, and walk for 1 min at 3 mph. Participants will then complete a 19.5-20 min treadmill walk/jog where they will complete a 1 min warmup at 3 mph, walk/jog for 17.5 min at 4 mph. Participants will then be asked to continue as they are for 10 weeks and will have the opportunity to bring home the Meta Quest 3 headset equipped with Supernatural for 10 weeks post-study.
Experimental: Virtual Reality Exercise Condition
Participants will complete a virtual reality (VR) exercise tutorial (Supernatural gameplay) and a Supernatural affect measurement workout (Flow or Boxing) in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (UVic). The tutorial will include watching Supernatural YouTube instructional videos, then completing a Supernatural training (~5-6 min), a 'getting started' low intensity Supernatural workout (~3 min), a low intensity Supernatural workout (~3 min), and a medium intensity Supernatural workout (~3 min). Participants will then complete the affect measurement medium intensity Supernatural workout (18-20 min). Participants will be provided a Virtual Reality headset (i.e., Meta Quest 3 headset) equipped with a Supernatural account for 10 weeks and will be instructed to participate in 75 minutes of medium intensity Supernatural physical activity per week which is equivalent to 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (in line with the Canadian physical activity guidelines).
Participants will complete a virtual reality exercise (i.e., Supernatural) tutorial (YouTube instruction and in-headset gameplay instruction/practice) and will complete a 18-20 minute affect measurement medium intensity virtual reality exercise (i.e., Supernatural) session in the Behavioural Medicine Lab (UVic).
Other Names:
  • Baseline virtual reality exercise and measurement workout
Participants will be provided a virtual reality headset (Meta Quest 3 Headset) and subscription to a virtual reality exercise game (i.e., Supernatural) for 10 weeks. Participants will be instructed to participate in 75 minutes of medium intensity Supernatural physical activity (equivalent to 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity) per week in their own home.
Other Names:
  • 10 week virtual reality exercise program

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Well-being: subjective vitality
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Subjective vitality will be assessed using a six-item subjective vitality scale. Participants will respond to the six subjective vitality items on a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (not at all true) to 7 (very true). The six items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores reflecting higher subjective vitality and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression and anxiety mood symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will respond to the 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which includes a depression subscale (7 items) and an anxiety subscale (7 items). Participants will respond to the 14-items using a four point (0-3) Likert-type scale. The two subscales will be mean scored (potential range 0-3), with higher scores reflecting higher depression and anxiety and more negative outcomes.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Perceived cognitive function
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will respond to the organization (5 items) and strategic planning (7 items) subscales of the executive function index using a five point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (Not at all) to 5 (Very much). The two subscales will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores reflecting higher organization and strategic planning and more positive outcomes.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Short-term Mood
Time Frame: Pre (baseline) and post in-lab physical activity; through lab completion (2 hours).
Participants will respond to the positive mood valence (2 items), calmness (2 items), and energy (2 items) sub-scales of the multidimensional mood questionnaire using a seven point Likert-type scale. The three subscales will be mean scored (potential range 0-6), with higher scores indicating a more positive mood (valence, calmness, energy) and a more positive outcome.
Pre (baseline) and post in-lab physical activity; through lab completion (2 hours).
Core Affect Measure - Feeling Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (pre exercise session), at ~3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total
Participants will complete a single item affect measure on an 11-point Likert-type scale anchored by -5 (very bad) to +5 (very good) to examine the affective response to exercise (Supernatural VR exercise or treadmill running). Higher scores will reflect more positive affective responses and a more positive outcome. Participants will be verbally prompted to respond to the scale during exercise (Supernatural VR exercise or treadmill exercise).
Baseline (pre exercise session), at ~3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total
Core Affect Measure - Felt Arousal Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (pre exercise session), ~ at 3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total
Participants will complete a single item arousal measure on a 6-point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (low arousal) to 6 (high arousal). Participants will be verbally prompted to respond to the scale during exercise (Supernatural VR exercise or treadmill exercise).
Baseline (pre exercise session), ~ at 3.5 minute intervals during exercise (post song), and at 1.5 and 3 minutes post exercise). 8 measurements total

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Supernatural Target Accuracy
Time Frame: Once during in-lab Supernatural orientation (tutorial workout), and after each of the five songs completed during the in-lab Supernatural workout.
Participants will receive a target accuracy score (i.e., number of targets successfully striked/punched) for each workout they complete. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores reflecting a more positive outcome.
Once during in-lab Supernatural orientation (tutorial workout), and after each of the five songs completed during the in-lab Supernatural workout.
Weekly Supernatural Physical Activity Behaviour
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Participants in the Supernatural condition will log their Supernatural VR physical activity (intensity and duration for each day of the week) at the end of each week. Scores will have a minimum value of 0 minutes, with more minutes indicating greater participation in Supernatural physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Direct assessment of Supernatural physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
The Meta Quest Move application (within Meta Quest 3 headset) estimates the amount of calories expended and 'move minutes' for each application in the headset. The calories expended and move minutes (within a particular time frame) in Supernatural will be extracted from the Meta Quest Move application for each participant. Meta Quest Move does underestimate the number of calories expended during a bout of physical activity and will therefore represent a proxy measure for Supernatural engagement time. A total score for calories burned and 'move minutes' will be recorded for each week of the study, with minimum values of 0 minutes and 0 calories and more minutes and calories expended indicating greater participation in Supernatural physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Direct assessment of physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 10
Accelerometers (wGT3X-BT ActiGraph) will provide direct assessments of participants' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Participants will wear the accelerometer for seven days at baseline and seven days post-week 10. The scores will have a minimum value of 0 minutes with more minutes will indicate greater participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline and Week 10
Physical Activity Environment
Time Frame: Week 10
The environmental module of the International Physical Activity Prevalence Study (IPS) will be used to assess a participants environment for walking and bicycling ability . Participants will be able to respond 17 items on a four point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Items will be mean scored (potential range 1 to 4) with higher scores reflecting a more favourable environment for physical activity participation.
Week 10
Perceived exertion
Time Frame: ~3.5 minute intervals (post song) during exercise. 5 measurements total.
Using the modified Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, participants will rate how hard they feel they are physically exerting themselves on a scale anchored by 0 (nothing at all) to 10 (very strong) during the exercise session (Supernatural VR exercise and treadmill running). Participants will be verbally prompted to respond to the scale during exercise.
~3.5 minute intervals (post song) during exercise. 5 measurements total.
Attitude towards physical activity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will respond to three items assessing affective attitudes towards physical activity (boring-fun, unpleasant-pleasant, unenjoyable-enjoyable) and three items assessing instrumental attitudes towards physical activity (useless-useful, harmful-beneficial, unwise-wise), for the next five weeks. They will respond to the six items on a seven point Likert-type scale. The two subscales will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores reflecting more positive affective attitudes and more positive instrumental attitudes towards physical activity and more positive outcomes.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Attitude towards Supernatural physical activity
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 10
Participants will respond to three items assessing affective attitudes towards Supernatural physical activity (boring-fun, unpleasant-pleasant, unenjoyable-enjoyable) and three items assessing instrumental attitudes towards Supernatural physical activity (useless-useful, harmful-beneficial, unwise-wise), for the next four/five weeks. They will respond to the six items on a seven point Likert-type scale. The two subscales will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores reflecting more positive affective attitudes and more positive instrumental attitudes towards Supernatural physical activity and more positive outcomes.
Week 1, Week 5, Week 10
Perceived opportunity for physical activity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Perceived opportunity to be regularly physically active over the next five weeks will be assessed using a three item scale. Participants will respond to the items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The three items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher perceived opportunity for physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Perceived opportunity for Supernatural physical activity
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Perceived opportunity to participate in regular Supernatural physical activity over the next four/five weeks will be assessed using an adapted three item scale. Participants will respond to the items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The three items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher perceived opportunity for Supernatural physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Perceived capability for physical activity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Perceived capability for regular physical activity over the next five weeks will be assessed using a four item scale. Participants will respond to the four items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The four items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher perceived capability for physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Perceived capability for Supernatural physical activity
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Perceived capability for regular Supernatural physical activity over the next four/five weeks will be assessed using a four item scale. Participants will respond to the four items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The four items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher perceived capability for Supernatural physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Intentions for physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will complete two items. First participants will report the number of minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity they intend to complete in the next five weeks with a minimum score of 0 minutes and higher values reflecting a more positive outcome. Second, participants will report the strength of their desire to participate in regular physical activity over the next five weeks using a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Higher scores (potential range 1-7) will reflect greater intention to participate in regular physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Intention for regular Supernatural physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Participants will complete two items. First participants will report the number of minutes of medium intensity Supernatural physical activity they intend to complete in the next four/five weeks with a minimum score of 0 minutes and higher values reflecting a more positive outcome. Second, participants will report the strength of their desire to participate in regular Supernatural physical activity over the next four/five weeks using a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Higher scores (potential range 1-7) will reflect greater intention to participate in regular physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Behavioural regulation of physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will respond to the 14-item physical activity regulation scale using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The 14-item measure includes four subscales, which are proactive regulation (4 items), reactive regulation (4 items), social monitoring (3 items), and self-monitoring (3 items).The four subscales will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher levels of physical activity behaviour regulation and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Behavioural regulation of Supernatural physical activity
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Participants will respond to the 14-item physical activity regulation scale adapted for Supernatural physical activity using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The 14-item measure includes four subscales, which are proactive regulation (4 items), reactive regulation (4 items), social monitoring (3 items), and self-monitoring (3 items).The four subscales will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher scores indicating higher levels of Supernatural physical activity behaviour regulation and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Physical activity habit
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Participants will complete the four item self-report behavioural automaticity index. Participants will respond to four items on a five point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The four items will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores reflecting a stronger physical activity habit and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Supernatural physical activity habit
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Participants will complete the four item self-report behavioural automaticity index, adapted for Supernatural physical activity. Participants will respond to four items on a five point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The four items will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores reflecting a stronger Supernatural physical activity habit and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Physical activity identity
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
Physical activity identity will be assessed using the three item self-identity subscale of the exercise identity scale. Participants will respond to the three items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The three items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher score reflecting a greater physical activity self-identity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Supernatural physical activity identity
Time Frame: Week 1, week 5, week 10
Supernatural physical activity identity will be assessed using an adapted three item self-identity subscale of the exercise identity scale. Participants will respond to the three items using a seven point Likert-type scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The three items will be mean scored (potential range 1-7), with higher score reflecting a greater Supernatural physical activity self-identity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, week 5, week 10
Physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Baseline, week 5, week 10
In reference to the past five weeks, participants will report the number of times per week (on average) they engaged in mild, moderate, and vigorous physical activity using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, and the average duration of mild, moderate, and vigorous physical activity sessions. The researchers will create an indicator of average weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity minutes (in past 5 weeks) for each participant using the following equation: (number of moderate bouts x average minutes per bout) + (number of vigorous bouts x average minutes per bout). The scores will have a minimum value of 0 minutes, with more minutes indicating greater participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Baseline, week 5, week 10
Supernatural physical activity behaviour
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 5, week 10
In reference to the past one/four/five weeks, participants will report the number of times per week (on average) they engaged in low, medium, and high intensity Supernatural physical activity using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, and the average duration of the low, medium, and high intensity Supernatural physical activity sessions. The researchers will create an indicator of average weekly medium-high intensity Supernatural physical activity minutes for each participant using the following equation: (number of medium bouts x average minutes per bout) + (number of high bouts x average minutes per bout). The scores will have a minimum value of 0 minutes, with more minutes indicating greater participation in Supernatural physical activity and a more positive outcome.
Week 1, Week 5, week 10
Personality
Time Frame: Week 5
Participants will respond to the neuroticism (12 items), extraversion (12 items), and conscientiousness (12 items) subscales in the five factor inventory. Participants will respond to the 36 personality related items on a five point Likert-type scale anchored by 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Each subscale will be mean scored (potential range 0-4), with higher scores reflecting a higher degree of the personality trait.
Week 5
Feasibility and Acceptability of Supernatural and the Meta Quest 3 headset
Time Frame: Week 10
Participants in the Supernatural condition will complete 9 items regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the Supernatural VR exercise game and the Meta Quest 3 headset. Participants will respond to each item on a five point Likert scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The 9 items will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher levels of feasibility and acceptability for both Supernatural VR exercise game and the Meta Quest 3 and a more positive outcomes. Items were derived from a previous Feasibility study. A sub-group of participants in the Supernatural condition will participate in exit interviews regarding the feasibility and acceptability of Supernatural VR exercise game and the Meta Quest 3 headset.
Week 10
Supernatural usability
Time Frame: Week 10
Participants in the Supernatural condition will complete an adapted 10-item system usability scale for the Supernatural VR exercise game, responding to each item on a five point Likert scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).The 10-items will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher levels of Supernatural usability and a more positive outcome. A sup-group of participants in the Supernatural condition will participate in exit interviews regarding the usability of the Supernatural VR exercise game.
Week 10
Meta Quest 3 headset usability
Time Frame: Week 10
Participants in the Supernatural condition will complete an adapted 10-item system usability scale for the Meta Quest 3 headset, responding to each item on a five point Likert scale anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).The 10-items will be mean scored (potential range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher levels of Meta Quest 3 usability and a more positive outcome. A sub-group of participants in the Supernatural condition will participate in exit interviews regarding the usability of the Meta Quest 3 headset.
Week 10

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ryan Rhodes, PhD, Lab Director and Professor

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 19, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 2, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

July 11, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 27, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 11, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 11, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2025

Last Verified

August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FN-10984

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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