청소년 발달 욕구에 기반한 가상현실 경험 요소 분석과 설계 방향 연구

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Relative to other media, Virtual Reality (VR) is characterized by high levels of immersion and interactivity, thereby making user responses and interpretations particularly consequential. However, most current VR content is designed in a generalized manner, with limited attention to age-related or developmental variation in experience. A review of the literature indicates that although VR research frequently focuses on presence and immersion, comparatively few studies interrogate developmental characteristics or age-specific differences. This study highlights adolescence as a developmental period in which cognitive and affective responses differ significantly from those of adults, and understanding these traits is crucial for exploring experience directions appropriate to this cohort. Accordingly, the study aims to delineate adolescents’ developmental needs, explore appropriate experience structures, and propose VR content directions tailored to this cohort. (Method) First, a scoping review of prior research was conducted to corroborate the scarcity of theoretical and empirical studies on adolescents in VR, while also examining foundational theories. Second, evolutionary, neuroscientific, and behavioral-cognitive perspectives were integrated to divide adolescence into early and late stages, and adolescent motivations for VR use were categorized in relation to their needs. The analysis clarified how needs manifest differently across stages and established this as a theoretical framework for VR content analysis. Third, to verify the lack of age-sensitive structures and the necessity of need-based interpretation, VR content on Meta and Steam platforms was classified by motivational type, and Event Segmentation Theory and Activity Theory were applied to derive usage sequences. Expert adjudication was employed to ensure reliability. Fourth, the results were synthesized to propose design directions based on developmental needs for early versus late adolescence. (Results) The study identified five major need structures for adolescents—autonomy, relatedness, competence, identity exploration, and emotional stability—integrating developmental traits with VR motivations. Content analysis indicated a consistent alignment between motivations and needs, indicating that VR experiences inherently reflect need-based behavior. A more granular analysis revealed that current VR content is designed generic manner without age-based distinctions, underscoring the need for differentiated approaches that address adolescent development. (Conclusions) This research demonstrates that early adolescence benefits from VR experiences that emphasize immediate rewards and peer-centered interactions, while late adolescence benefits from experiences that enhancing self-regulation and goal orientation. By framing design directions around developmental needs, the study proposes pathways for providing experiences in VR that surpass real-world limitations. Ultimately, it identifies the potential of VR to deliver new experience structures grounded in adolescent developmental traits, offering both theoretical insight and practical implications for future VR content design.