Can Virtual Reality Help Us Feel Closer?

With loneliness on the rise, especially among young adults, researchers are seeking innovative ways to foster real human connection. Two of them are Dr. Thao Ha, Associate Professor of Psychology and Dr. Liesel Sharabi Associate Professor at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, both at Arizona State University, whose groundbreaking project “Exploring Touch in Virtual Reality in Young Adult Romantic Relationships” are investigating whether virtual touch can help fill the gap.

Using ASU’s Dreamscape Learn VR (virtual reality) platform, Drs. Ha and Sharabi and their team are observing how couples interact physically in a virtual environment and whether different types of touch affect feelings of closeness, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness. The project builds on an earlier pilot study involving 47 couples and plans to expand the sample to 100 couples.

By combining video observations, self-reported surveys, and physiological data, the study aims to understand how immersive VR can simulate meaningful physical connection—and whether it can be used to strengthen romantic bonds in the digital age.

Drs. Ha and Sharabi’s research offers important insights for both technology developers and mental health professionals, with the potential to inform future intervention practices and the design of emotionally intelligent VR systems.