Virtual Reality as a Tool for Pro-Environmental Dietary Change: A Randomized Trial

Abstract As the food industry significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, studying new behavioral interventions promoting plant-based diets is crucial for mitigating climate change. This study investigates the impact of an efficacy-focused virtual reality (VR) intervention designed according to instructional design principles on eating behavior. In the preregistered intervention study, psychology students randomly assigned to nine blocks (analyzed n = 123, follow-up n = 90) were allocated to either the VR intervention (four groups) or the control (no-treatment) condition (five groups). The study employed a parallel design, and the primary outcome was the effect of the VR simulation on dietary footprint measured from one week before to one week after the intervention. The VR intervention decreased individual dietary footprints (d = 0.4) significantly more than the control condition. Similarly, response efficacy and knowledge increased to a larger extent in the VR condition compared to the control. For knowledge, the effect persisted for one week. The VR intervention had no impact on intentions, self-efficacy, or psychological distance. Additional manipulation of normative feedback enhanced self-efficacy; however, manipulation of geographical framing did not influence psychological distance. This research received no financial support from any funding agency and was registered on 15/09/2021 at Open Science Foundation with the number 10.17605/OSF.IO/2AXF3.