Virtual social support buffers stress response: An experimental comparison of real-life and virtual support prior to a social stressor

ConclusionsVirtual social support is as effective as face-to-face support in terms of stress buffering, as long as the recipient has the impression that it is provided by another human (via an avatar). This has wide ranging implications not only for health-related application in prevention and treatment but also for further research.

Source: Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry - November 12, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research