Does virtual nature exposure relieve mood disturbances in premenstrual syndrome?

Introduction Mood disturbances are frequently reported in individuals experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS). We examined whether a brief multisensory virtual exposure to natural environments (e.g., forests)—as opposed to urban environments—can improve mood states in individuals experiencing PMS symptoms at different severities, as natural environments are well-known to exert healing effects on mood. Methods Ninety-nine participants were classified for PMS severity using prospective symptom tracking. Standardised questionnaires then assessed mood changes (e.g., depression, positive affect) from the follicular to the luteal phase in individuals with and without PMS. Finally, we measured the effects of virtual exposure to natural (i.e., forest) or urban (i.e., busy street) environments on momentary mood states in the luteal phase. Results Women with PMS reported higher levels of mood disturbances than women without PMS across both menstrual phases, but mood disturbances of those with PMS elevated further during the luteal phase. While exposure to both environments improved mood states in the luteal phase, natural environments yielded slightly greater overall benefits (i.e., for measures of fatigue and total mood disturbances) in individuals with and without PMS alike. Notably, individuals with severe PMS were vulnerable to the mood-disturbing effects of urban environments. Discussion We demonstrate that brief virtual exposure to natural environments may alleviate mood disturbances, particularly among those experiencing PMS symptoms during the symptomatic luteal phase, highlighting its potential to be an accessible method for relieving negative mood changes in PMS.