Virtual companions reduce anxiety when perceived as social partners

The concept of social buffering — the stress-relieving effect of a companion’s presence — is well established in animals and humans. Inspired by previous research on zebrafish and human trials, the study explored whether this effect could be replicated in virtual environments. 

In earlier studies, participants were exposed to distressing stimuli (screams) either alone or with a real person. Measurements of skin conductance (a physiological anxiety marker) showed reduced stress when another person was present — though individuals with high social anxiety benefitted less. 

“Social interactions today often occur virtually, but the effects of social buffering in virtual settings are still largely unknown” explains Prof. Grit Hein. 

In the virtual version, participants viewed avatars through VR headsets while exposed to the same sounds. The study included: 

• a realistic female avatar 

• a male avatar 

• a wooden mannequin ("Woody") 

• a point cloud figure 

• a no-companion control condition 

Surprisingly, both the female avatar and Woody significantly reduced anxiety responses — but only when introduced with social meaning. The male avatar showed no calming effect for female participants, and the point cloud figure performed no better than an empty room. 

“A humanoid character can reduce stress and anxiety—as long as it has social significance,” says Grit Hein. 
“Even a stylized figure can effectively buffer fear reactions—if we assign them this role,” adds Philipp Krop, researcher at CAIDAS. 

These insights are relevant for mental health apps, AI companions, and virtual agents used in psychiatric care and therapeutic VR applications. “Our biggest insight was that anxiety response is not determined by how visually detailed a virtual character is, but whether we perceive them as a real social partner,” says Dr. Martin Weiß. 

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Universitätsklinikum Würzburg