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Metaverse dependency as a psychosomatic risk of immersive platforms: development and validation of the Metaverse Dependency-Related Experiences Scale

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: With the continuous expansion of socially immersive "metaverse" platforms, concerns regarding dependence-like tendencies associated with avatar-based virtual environments have grown. However, validated instruments that capture the psychosomatic and immersion-related characteristics central to such environments remain scarce. To address this gap, this study developed and preliminarily validated the Metaverse Dependency-Related Experiences Scale (MDRES), a self-report measure that assesses dependence-like tendencies in communication-oriented virtual environments. Methods: This research comprised two studies. Study 1 included the following two phases: Phase 1 involved qualitative item generation based on open-ended responses from active metaverse users, while Phase 2 involved item reduction and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the candidate items. Study 2 conducted confirmatory factor analysis and examined associations between the MDRES and theoretically relevant external variables. Results: In Study 1 Phase 1, qualitative responses were utilized to generate an initial pool of 52 candidate items. In Study 1 Phase 2, these 52 candidate items were administered, and EFA identified a six-factor, 39-item structure, including Reality Avoidance (α = 0.93), Confusion Between Physical and Virtual Spaces (α = 0.91), Awareness of Physical Symptoms (α = 0.85), Sleep Disturbance-Like Symptoms (α = 0.89), Physical Discomfort/Sensory Abnormalities (α = 0.85), and Stress Relief (α = 0.54). In Study 2, the six-factor structure received initial confirmatory support, while the MDRES subscales exhibited theoretically coherent associations with psychological distress, mood, somatic symptoms, mental health-related indicators, and game engagement. Discussion: Overall, the MDRES highlights the multidimensional, psychosomatic, and ambivalent nature (risk-related and stress-relieving) of metaverse involvement and offers a conceptually grounded tool for future work on dependence processes in immersive virtual environments.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1814271

Authors: Takuto Homma, Naoki Konishi, Ryohei Umetani, Jin Kato, Takemasa Yokoyama

Institutions: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Meiji University, Hokuriku Gakuin University

Language: English

Topic: Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

Subfield: Human-Computer Interaction

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801