ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) is widely recognized for its significant contributions to physical, mental, and social well-being, with emotional bonds between individuals and their companion animals playing a pivotal role. However, the loss of a companion animal can lead to profound emotional distress, often referred to as Pet Loss Syndrome (PLS). Recent advancements in virtual reality and 3D interaction technologies have opened up new possibilities for digitally reconstructing and sustaining human-animal relationships. This study aims to investigate the potential of virtual pet interaction as an intervention for individuals experiencing PLS. To this end, an experiment was conducted with 21 healthy adult participants, incorporating a mental arithmetic task to induce stress, followed by an interaction session with a virtual pet avatar. Within the virtual environment, participants engaged in various activities, including throwing a ball, feeding, putting the virtual pet to sleep, and petting, using natural interactions through hand gestures and voice commands to create an immersive experience. Subjective survey responses indicated that participants derived emotional comfort from their interactions with the virtual pet. This result suggests the potential therapeutic utility of such interventions for emotional regulation and stress relief.

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