Investigating the Psychophysiological Effects of a Telehealth-Enabled Multi-sensory Environment on Anxiety among Young Adults in Educational Settings

Anxiety symptoms among adults in the U.S. have increased significantly in recent years, with higher prevalence among younger adults in rural areas. Using an experimental design, this industry-academia collaborative study evaluates the impact of a telehealth-enabled multi-sensory environment on anxiety levels among young adults. A sample of 30 participants aged 18-25 was recruited from a university population in the U.S. Anxiety levels were assessed during three five-minute episodes: baseline, exposure to Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and physical sensory environment with telehealth (pre-recorded guided meditation). Physiological data-- electrodermal activity (EDA), number and duration of eye fixations and saccades-- were collected continuously using sensors (EmbracePlus) and eye-tracking (Tobii Pro Glasses). Subjective data were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and semi-structured exit interviews. Pairwise comparisons based on complete datasets from 25 participants revealed a significant decrease in EDA (P < .001), mean frequency of saccades (P = .011) and eye fixations (P < .001), and mean state anxiety scores (P < .001) among participants following TSST, indicating the effectiveness of the telehealth-enabled multi-sensory environment in anxiety reduction. Semi-structured interviews also highlighted participants preferences regarding key sensory environment features, including tactile, form, lighting, furniture types, and configurations. Findings from this study will inform the design and implementation of telehealth-enabled multi-sensory environments in the future educational settings to improve anxiety symptoms among young adults.