What Makes Us Feel (Tele)Present? A PRISMA Systematic Review of Psychological Factors

As virtual environments become increasingly integrated into everyday life, understanding the sense of presence within mediated settings becomes crucial. This systematic review examines psychological factors shaping susceptibility to (tele)presence, organizing them by effect robustness. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 4587 articles were identified across major databases (e.g., PsycInfo, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar). After independently screening 4191 abstracts and 1981 full-texts, 69 studies were included in the final review and qualitative quality assessment. A narrative synthesis of empirical research highlighted the complexity and heterogeneity of the relationship between presence and psychological factors, including the roles of immersion and flow. Six clusters of psychological factors emerged as facilitators or inhibitors: individual, cognitive, emotional, perceptual, motivational, and social variables. However, the prevalence of cross-sectional designs limited causal inference, and contrasting evidence suggested potential mediating variables. Longitudinal studies are required to clarify these relationships and refine the conceptual definitions.