Österåsen lifestilecenter yellow main building

3.4 Österåsen

Page reviewed:  17/03/2026

Lifestyle Medicine Österåsen (Region Västernorrland)

Aim

The pilot at Österåsen offered participants with type 2 diabetes a virtual reality complement to real nature experiences, aiming to support stress recovery and help them maintain long-term lifestyle improvements in their everyday lives.

Participants, Intervention and Follow-up

The research study conducted at Österåsen explored the experience of spending time in immersive virtual reality with nature (IVR‑N) among individuals with type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus). 

Interventions

  • VR-headset
  • IRL (in real-Life)- Nature Interventions included

Participants were enrolled in a multimodal lifestyle programme at Österåsen Lifestyle Medicine and were invited to take part in the research project, which included using IVR‑N. They could choose among several serene natural environments and were instructed to use the VR headset for 30 minutes, 2–3 times per week, over a period of six months.

Methods used to asess effects and background knowlege

  • Quantitative Psycological assessment Measures, Mood assessment, RAND-36: Health-related quality of life, DES-SF-10: Scale for perceived support and self-care capacity related to diabetes, PSQ-14: Scale for perceived stress.

  • Quantitative Clinical Measures: Heart rate variability, Medication usage, HbA1c (blood sugar levels), Body Mass Index (BMI).

  • Qualitative Psycological assessment Measures: Individual interviews
    Seventeen participants were interviewed using semi‑structured interviews, and the qualitative data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results and Findings

The participants described the IVR‑N experience as transcending time and space, invoking feelings of tranquility and inspiration. They reported that IVR‑N evoked a sense of calm and temporary withdrawal from everyday demands. The experience appeared to extend beyond the IVR‑N sessions themselves, contributing to improved concentration and sleep.

However, several factors disrupted the restorative experience, including technical issues, individual preferences regarding the virtual environments, health‑ or situation‑related challenges, and difficulties establishing a routine for using IVR‑N. Although the natural environments were perceived as realistic, participants stressed that IVR‑N could not replace real nature, but rather served as a substitute when access to outdoor nature was limited.

Lessons learned include that a sense of familiarity with the natural environments and individual preferences had a substantial impact on the perceived benefits of IVR‑N. This suggests that a broad selection of different natural environments should be available, allowing users to choose settings that match their personal preferences. While IVR‑N did not replace real nature, it appeared to stimulate a desire to spend more time outdoors, thereby supporting renewal, recovery, and a sense of well‑being.

Submitted manuscript

Norberg, M., Bohlin, E., Dolling, A., Krachler, B., Elfving, J., Gärdemalm, M., and Lämås, K. (2026). Experiences of nature through immersive virtual reality among people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Manuscript submitted for publication

Summary presentation (from Vaasa conference, dec. 2025)

Experiences of nature through immersive virtual reality among people with Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, in Lifestyle support services Österåsen,
Region Västernorrland, Sweden 
-  Kristina Lämås et.al.