Effects of VR and MR Exergaming on Mood and Executive Function During Workplace Microbreaks

Executive functions will be assessed using the PEBL Victoria Stroop Test. This test evaluates cognitive control, reaction time, and error rates in different experimental conditions. To eliminate learning effects, each participant will complete two practice trials before the experimental session. The test consists of three phases (1. Neutral words (words without color conflict), 2. Congruent words (words where the meaning matches the text color), 3.Incongruent words (words where the meaning differs from the text color).

Participants will be instructed to identify the color of the word as quickly and accurately as possible. Reaction times (in milliseconds) and error rates will be recorded.

Participants' mood states will be assessed using the Positive Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). PANAS is a widely used self-report instrument designed to measure two distinct dimensions of affective states: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). However, in this study, only the PA subscale will be utilized. This decision is based on the study's focus on the short-term affective benefits of VR and MR exercise, as physical activity is predominantly linked to improvements in positive emotions rather than significant reductions in negative affect. Additionally, since negative emotions may not exhibit substantial changes in a single-session exercise context, analyzing only positive affect provides a clearer understanding of the intervention's psychological benefits.

Heart rate will be measured using a Polar H10 chest strap sensor at two time points: pre-exercise and during the session. All HR data will be recorded in real time via the Polar Flow application. The HR measurements will be used to assess the physiological load of the exercise and compare differences across conditions.

Subjective physical exertion will be evaluated using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale (6-20) before and after each session. This scale measures subjective physical effort perception and is widely used for assessing exercise intensity.

Participants' intention to engage in VR and MR-based exercise in the future will be measured using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Not at all likely, 7 = Definitely will repeat). Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to continue using VR/MR-based exercise programs in the future. This outcome will help determine the long-term engagement potential of immersive exercise formats.