Study finds AR/VR sports games boost mental health and social connection

Medical Xpress September 14, 2025
Lauren Knapp, Michigan State University

Physical sports have long been known to help with anxiety and mental health. But can augmented and virtual reality sports games improve psychological well-being and reduce loneliness? Researchers at Michigan State University’s Department of Kinesiology say yes.

Assistant professors Sanghoon Kim and Sangchul Park, at MSU’s College of Education, led a study to explore layered questions on the psychological benefits of using augmented/virtual reality, or AR/VR, technology.

Published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, the study shows that playing AR/VR sports games can promote psychological well-being by helping players feel connected to others and engage in real-time communication. More interestingly, the positive effects of feeling socially present were even stronger for those experiencing loneliness.

“These findings remind us that...