International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Modeling Psychological Interactions in Virtual Architecture: A Mediating Analysis of Sensory-Visual Perception Using PLS-SEM

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Modaberian
Sahar Toofan
Nima Valizadeh
Department of Architecture, Ta. C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/ijumes.2026.2078230.1345
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of modeling the psychological interactions between the designer and the user in virtual architectural space and examining the role of these interactions in the formation of sensory–visual perception. Despite the expansion of the use of virtual reality technologies, augmented reality, and interactive environments in architecture, understanding how environmental features are transformed into the user’s perceptual experience still faces conceptual and analytical gaps. Accordingly, the present research explains this process by presenting a structural model based on three constructs: “virtual architecture,” “psychological interactions,” and “sensory–visual perception.” The research method is based on a quantitative approach and the use of structural equation modeling with the partial least squares method (PLS-SEM). Data were collected through a questionnaire with the participation of 250 students and individuals familiar with virtual architectural environments. The results showed that virtual architecture has a positive and significant effect on psychological interactions, and these interactions also have a direct and strong effect on sensory–visual perception. In contrast, the direct effect of virtual architecture on perception, in the presence of the mediating variable, was weaker and reported with a negative direction, while the total effect remained positive. These findings indicate that spatial perception in virtual environments is not formed directly, but rather through the user’s active cognitive, behavioral–social, and educational engagement with the environment. The framework presented in this study can serve as a basis for designing interactive virtual environments, especially in architectural education.

Graphical Abstract

Modeling Psychological Interactions in Virtual Architecture: A Mediating Analysis of Sensory-Visual Perception Using PLS-SEM

Highlights

  • A structural model is proposed to explain sensory–visual perception in virtual architectural environments.
  • Psychological interactions are identified as the central mediating mechanism in perception formation.
  • Virtual architecture significantly influences perception primarily through indirect pathways.
  • Cognitive and perceptual factors play a stronger role than purely visual characteristics.
  • The study emphasizes interaction-centered design for improving user experience in virtual environments.

Keywords
PLS-SEM, Psychological Interactions, Sensory&ndash
Visual Perception, Virtual Architecture, Virtual Reality
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International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 May 2026

  • Receive Date 18 November 2025
  • Revise Date 03 May 2026
  • Accept Date 13 May 2026