Usage Matters: The Role of Frequency, Duration, and Experience in Presence Formation in Social Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study investigates how everyday usage patterns shape presence in social VR beyond laboratory confines. Using a large online survey (N=295) and hierarchical regression, it shows that usage frequency and session duration robustly predict presence across spatial, social, and self dimensions, with significant interaction effects indicating non-linear gains when usage is intensive. Years of VR experience plays a weaker or conditional role, while gender differences appear at the level of overall presence but do not moderate usage effects; age shows minimal moderation. The findings offer practical guidance for designing inclusive social VR experiences that sustain immersion through regular, longer engagements and highlight the ecological validity of examining presence in real-world, user-directed VR use.

Abstract

The sense of presence is central to immersive experiences in Virtual Reality (VR), and particularly salient in socially rich platforms like social VR. While prior studies have explored various aspects related to presence, less is known about how ongoing usage behaviors shape presence in everyday engagement. To address this gap, we examine whether usage intensity, captured through frequency of use, session duration, and years of VR experience, predicts presence in social VR. A survey of 295 users assessed overall, social, spatial, and self-presence using validated scales. Results show that both frequency and duration consistently predict higher presence across all dimensions, with interaction effects indicating that frequent and extended sessions synergistically amplify the experience of "being there." These effects were stable across age and gender. Our findings extend presence research beyond the laboratory by identifying behavioral predictors in social VR and offer insights for building inclusive environments that reliably foster presence.

Figures (12)

• Figure 1: Interaction effects of usage behaviors on sense of presence. (Left) Frequency $\times$ Duration interaction; (Middle) Frequency $\times$ Experience interaction; (Right) Duration $\times$ Experience interaction. All predictors are standardized. Shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals.
• Figure 2: Interaction effects between gender and usage behaviors on sense of presence. (Left) Gender $\times$ Frequency, (Middle) Gender $\times$ Duration, (Right) Gender $\times$ Experience. Shaded regions represent 95% confidence intervals.
• Figure 3: Interaction effects between age and usage behaviors on sense of presence. (Left) Age $\times$ Frequency, (Middle) Age $\times$ Duration, (Right) Age $\times$ Experience. Shaded regions represent 95% confidence intervals.
• Figure 4: Interaction effects of usage behaviors on social presence. (Left) Frequency $\times$ Duration interaction; (Middle) Frequency $\times$ Experience interaction; (Right) Duration $\times$ Experience interaction. All predictors are standardized. Shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals.
• Figure 5: Interaction effects between gender and usage behaviors on social presence. (Left) Gender $\times$ Frequency, (Middle) Gender $\times$ Duration, (Right) Gender $\times$ Experience. Shaded regions represent 95% confidence intervals.