🌿 Culturally Sensitive Immersive Experiences for Alleviating Migrant Loneliness
Loneliness is a subjective condition arising from unmet social relationship expectations. For migrants, loneliness often stems from missing familiar cultural elements, family and identity, leading to a lack of connection in their new environment and inhibiting meaningful relationships. This absence of cultural connectedness hinders the formation of meaningful relationships, causing voluntary social disconnection and intensifying feelings of loneliness. Current interventions lack cultural sensitivity, and existing digital solutions require community connection upfront, which may not suit lonely migrants. This study explores how culturally sensitive, immersive VR interventions can help foster presence and mitigate loneliness for migrant adults.
iBelongVR
4:25
YouTube
iBelongVR - Prototype Video
- iBelongVR is a culturally immersive virtual reality experience designed to help migrants reconnect with their heritage
- Through culturally tailored objects, activities and spaces, users are encouraged to reflect on their identity and foster a sense of belonging in their new home
- The experience is currently designed subjective to Sri Lankan ethnic communities to explore its effectiveness
Research Team
Nishadi Ariyasinghe
PhD Candidate
School of Engineering and Computer Science,
Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand.
Simon McCallum
Supervisor
School of Engineering and Computer Science,
Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand.
Craig Anslow
Supervisor
School of Engineering and Computer Science,
Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand.
Collaborators
Survey and Interview Study
🎯 Aim
- Understand migrant challenges and loneliness
- Explore role of culture in wellbeing
- Review existing digital and non-digital interventions
- Inform design of VR-based intervention
👥 Participants & Data
Participants (N = 90)
- Migrant adults experiencing loneliness or cultural disconnection
- Migrant support professionals
Method
- 70 structured interviews
- 20 semi-structured interviews
- One-on-one interviews
- Ethnicity-based focus groups
🔍 Findings
- Loss of cultural festivals strongly affects belonging
- Cultural loss as equally significant as family separation and language barriers
- Loneliness often internalized as personal failure
- Cultural engagement is beneficial but hard to sustain
- Strong demand for digital cultural experiences
User Study
🎯 Aim
- Evaluate emotional impact of VR experience
- Explore identity expression and reflection
- Assess sense of presence in VR
- Understand real-world behavioural impact
👥 Participants & Data
Participants (N = 24)
- First-generation Sri Lankan migrants in New Zealand
Method
- VR experience session
- Think-aloud protocol
- Observation
- Semi-structured interviews
🔍 Findings
- Cultural Familiarity Supports Meaning-Making
- Rarely accessible cultural elements strengthened cultural connection.
- Embodied rituals encouraged engagement and reflection.
- Helped preserve identity while sharing culture with others.
- Emotional Connection Encourages Reflection
- Positive emotions and cultural pride.
- Nostalgic memories and storytelling.
- Inspired reconnecting with culture in real life.
- Cultural Authenticity Enhances Presence
- Familiar cues promoted natural behaviour.
- Users reported feeling emotionally and physically present.
- Bridging Cultural Distance Through VR
- Increased access to otherwise inaccessible cultural experiences.
- Alternative when travelling home was difficult.
Publications
2025
- OzCHI 2025 : Conference Paper - Alleviating Migrant Loneliness Through Culturally Immersive VR Experiences |
- IEEE PG Symposium : Presentation - Rebuilding Belonging: Cultural Identity and Loneliness in Migrant Focused Social VR |
- HealthTech Week NZ : Poster - Alleviating Migrant Loneliness with Culturally Immersive VR |