Embodiment in Nature: How Avatar Choice Shapes an Underwater Virtual Reality Experience

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) applications are increasingly used to foster environmental awareness and promote pro-environmental behaviors by reducing psychological distance and enhancing nature-connectedness. In this study, we investigated how different avatars, in an underwater educational IVR experience, influence users' Sense of Embodiment (SoE), measured through self-reported and physiological measures (Electrodermal Activity – EDA). Results showed that the Sense of Agency plays a key role in enhancing overall SoE, raising it when users embody an avatar capable of free movement and interaction. Conversely, restricted interactivity resulted in higher EDA, suggesting that this may be due to the frustration caused by the unmet desire to move and explore.