Matching avatar characteristics to a user can impact sense of embodiment (SoE) in VR. However, few studies have examined how participant demographics may interact with these matching effects. We recruited a diverse and racially balanced sample of 78 participants to investigate the differences among participant groups when embodying both demographically matched and unmatched avatars. We found that participant ethnicity emerged as a significant factor, with Asian and Black participants reporting lower total SoE compared to Hispanic participants. Furthermore, we found that user ethnicity significantly influences ownership (a subscale of SoE), with Asian and Black participants exhibiting stronger effects of matched avatar ethnicity compared to White participants. Additionally, Hispanic participants showed no significant differences, suggesting complex dynamics in ethnic-racial identity. Our results also reveal significant main effects of matched avatar ethnicity and gender on SoE, indicating the importance of considering these factors in VR experiences. These findings contribute valuable insights into understanding the complex dynamics shaping VR experiences across different demographic groups.

翻译：将虚拟化身特征与用户匹配会影响虚拟现实中的具身感。然而，关于参与者人口统计学特征如何与这些匹配效应相互作用的研究尚不充分。我们招募了78名种族平衡的多样化参与者，研究其在体现人口统计学匹配与不匹配虚拟化身时的群体差异。研究发现，参与者种族是显著影响因素：相较于西班牙裔参与者，亚裔和非裔参与者的总体具身感评分较低。此外，用户种族对所有权感（具身感的子维度）具有显著影响，其中亚裔和非裔参与者比白人参与者表现出更强的虚拟化身种族匹配效应。值得注意的是，西班牙裔参与者未呈现显著差异，暗示着种族身份认同的复杂动态机制。研究结果同时揭示了虚拟化身种族匹配与性别对具身感存在显著主效应，表明在虚拟现实体验设计中需综合考虑这些因素。这些发现为理解不同人口统计学群体间虚拟现实体验的复杂形成机制提供了重要见解。