Psychosocial impacts of engaging in Second Life for individuals with physical disabilities

•We demonstrate psychosocial impacts of Second Life for a specific population.•We provide in-depth accounts of processes associated with psychosocial impacts.•We consider virtual experiences as enjoyable leisure for those with disabilities.

The psychological experiences associated with engagement in virtual worlds have been well documented in the existing literature. The current study aimed to explore the motivations, experiences and psychosocial impacts of engaging in the virtual world “Second Life”. This aimed to extend previous findings by specifically exploring the phenomenological experiences within a sample of individuals with physical disabilities. This was achieved by conducting in-world interviews with five participants, comprising a range of physical disabilities. Through thematic analysis of the interviews transcripts, a number of themes were identified. Quality of life, self-esteem and recreational therapy were identified as positive psychological outcomes of engagement in Second Life. These were found to occur through a number of processes such as self-discovery, relaxation, and perception of in-world equality. Further, the social and environmental opportunities emerged as key motivations for engagement in Second Life. These findings extend the current literature by providing evidence for the way in which Second Life provides important leisure opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities, and the way in which these experiences are associated with positive psychological outcomes. The implications of these findings highlight the clinical relevance of such platforms for this particular population of individuals.