{ "name": "How Many People Get Motion Sickness? 1 in 3", "description": "About 1 in 3 people are highly susceptible, roughly 46% get carsick, and 70-90% of astronauts feel it. Sourced prevalence figures you can cite.", "url": "https://dizzout.com/motion-sickness-statistics", "updated": "2026-06-14", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Dizzout", "legalName": "Kinda Smart Inc.", "url": "https://dizzout.com" }, "citation": "Dizzout (Kinda Smart Inc.). \"How Many People Get Motion Sickness? 1 in 3.\" Updated 2026-06-14. https://dizzout.com/motion-sickness-statistics", "categories": [ { "key": "prevalence", "title": "How common is motion sickness?", "stats": [ { "metric": "Share highly susceptible to motion sickness", "figure": "About 1 in 3 people", "context": "Roughly a third of people are considered highly susceptible, getting sick easily from common motion, while almost everyone will become motion sick if the motion is intense enough.", "source_name": "MedlinePlus Genetics (U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH)", "source_url": "https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/motion-sickness/", "source_year": "2018" }, { "metric": "Variation in susceptibility across the population", "figure": "About 10,000 to 1", "context": "Individual sensitivity spans an enormous range, from people sickened by the slightest provocation to those almost impossible to make ill.", "source_name": "Lackner JR, \"Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting,\" Experimental Brain Research (PMC4112051)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112051/", "source_year": "2014" }, { "metric": "Who is essentially immune", "figure": "Only those with total loss of labyrinthine function", "context": "The vestibular (inner-ear) system is required to trigger motion sickness; people who have completely lost labyrinthine function are the one group that does not get it.", "source_name": "Lackner JR, \"Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting,\" Experimental Brain Research (PMC4112051)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112051/", "source_year": "2014" }, { "metric": "Genetic variants linked to motion sickness", "figure": "35 variants (study of 80,494 people)", "context": "The first genome-wide association study of motion sickness, run on a 23andMe cohort of 80,494 people, identified 35 genetic variants associated with susceptibility, confirming a strong, long-recognized genetic component.", "source_name": "Hromatka et al., Human Molecular Genetics (23andMe; PMID 25628336)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25628336/", "source_year": "2015" }, { "metric": "How heritable is motion sickness susceptibility?", "figure": "~57% (up to 70% in childhood)", "context": "A classical twin study of 3,652 adult female twins (TwinsUK) estimated heritability of motion-sickness susceptibility at 57% (95% CI 51 to 63%), highest in childhood (around 70%) and declining with age.", "source_name": "Reavley et al., Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (PMID 17086768)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17086768/", "source_year": "2006" }, { "metric": "Near-universal susceptibility (lifetime / \"can be induced in nearly everyone\")", "figure": "Nearly all people", "context": "The international diagnostic-criteria consensus document of the Bárány Society states that motion sickness can be provoked in nearly the entire population given a sufficiently strong motion stimulus, with only individuals at the extremes of the susceptibility distribution (e.g., those with non-functioning vestibular systems) effectively exempt.", "source_name": "Motion sickness diagnostic criteria: Consensus Document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society (Journal of Vestibular Research)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9249300/", "source_year": "2021" } ] }, { "key": "symptoms", "title": "The symptoms", "stats": [ { "metric": "Most frequently reported seasickness symptoms among affected sailors", "figure": "Nausea 87.5%, cold sweats 50%", "context": "In a 2024 cross-sectional questionnaire study of 119 French civilian sailors (109 men, 10 women), 34% reported being seasick. Among those affected, nausea (87.5%) and cold sweats (50%) were the two most frequently described symptoms.", "source_name": "Jan Le Cloirec M, Lucas D, Loddé B, Pougnet R, Maffert A, Jégaden D. 'The prevalence of seasickness in a population of French civilian sailors.' International Maritime Health 2024;75(3):147-154", "source_url": "https://journals.viamedica.pl/international_maritime_health/article/view/99481", "source_year": "2024" }, { "metric": "Leading motion-sickness symptoms among seasick oceanographers", "figure": "Nausea 82%, vomiting 56%", "context": "In a survey of researchers aboard French oceanographic vessels (223 respondents; 188 reported seasickness), the major symptoms among those affected were nausea (82%) and vomiting (56%).", "source_name": "Lucas D, Mehaneze M, Loddé B, Jegaden D, 'Seasickness and its impact on researchers' work on board French oceanographic vessels,' International Maritime Health", "source_url": "https://journals.viamedica.pl/international_maritime_health/article/view/70427", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "Sopite syndrome recognized as a motion-sickness symptom complex", "figure": "drowsiness/lethargy symptom complex (term coined 1976; revised definition 2014)", "context": "Sopite syndrome, a symptom complex of drowsiness, lethargy, apathy and mood changes, has been recognized as a manifestation of motion sickness since Graybiel and Knepton coined the term in 1976, and was formally re-defined in the peer-reviewed literature in 2014.", "source_name": "Matsangas P, McCauley ME, 'Sopite syndrome: a revised definition,' Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (PubMed)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24919391/", "source_year": "2014" } ] }, { "key": "children", "title": "Children and age", "stats": [ { "metric": "Peak susceptibility age range", "figure": "Peaks between ages 7 and 12", "context": "Across childhood, motion-sickness susceptibility rises after infancy and reaches its highest point in the late-childhood window of roughly 7 to 12 years before declining into adulthood.", "source_name": "CDC Yellow Book 2026 (CDC Health Information for International Travel), Motion Sickness chapter", "source_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK620959/", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "Rarity in infants under 2 years", "figure": "Children under 2 years do not usually experience motion sickness", "context": "Motion sickness is uncommon in the youngest children, who are largely resistant before about age 2. Susceptibility rises afterward, peaking around ages 7-12, then declines through adulthood and old age.", "source_name": "CDC Yellow Book 2026, Motion Sickness chapter", "source_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK620959/", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "Greater susceptibility in children 2-12 than adults", "figure": "More common in children aged 2 to 12 years than in adults", "context": "Standard clinical reference framing of the age curve: motion sickness is rare under 2, most common in the 2-12 childhood window, then becomes less common with age (new-onset movement-based motion sickness is uncommon after age 50).", "source_name": "Merck Manual (Professional Version), Motion Sickness", "source_url": "https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/motion-sickness/motion-sickness", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "Prevalence in school-age children by travel mode", "figure": "43.4% in a car and 43.2% on a bus (vs. 11.7% on a swing, 11.6% on a Ferris wheel)", "context": "In a cross-sectional study of 831 schoolchildren aged 7-12, roughly two in five reported motion sickness during car or bus travel - far more than on amusement rides.", "source_name": "Henriques IF, de Oliveira DW, Oliveira-Ferreira F, Andrade PMO, \"Motion sickness prevalence in school children,\" European Journal of Pediatrics", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24893949/", "source_year": "2014" }, { "metric": "Overall susceptibility across childhood/adolescence and the inverse-U age curve", "figure": "9.2% of children/adolescents susceptible; first occurrence below age 1 exceptionally rare; highest frequency between ages 4 and 13", "context": "A large German parent-reported survey covering 5,041 children aged 3 months to 18 years mapped susceptibility as an inverse-U curve - near-absent in infancy, peaking in mid-childhood, then declining after puberty.", "source_name": "Huppert D, Grill E, Brandt T, \"Survey of motion sickness susceptibility in children and adolescents aged 3 months to 18 years,\" Journal of Neurology", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31087161/", "source_year": "2019" }, { "metric": "Decline in older adults / new-onset uncommon after 50", "figure": "New-onset motion sickness from physical movement is uncommon after age 50", "context": "Susceptibility tends to decline from its childhood peak through adulthood, and new cases driven by physical motion become uncommon past midlife (though older adults can be more prone to visually induced motion sickness).", "source_name": "Merck Manual (Professional Version), Motion Sickness", "source_url": "https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/motion-sickness/motion-sickness", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "Adult prevalence as a frequent problem, by age", "figure": "A frequent problem in 14% of adults under 30 vs. 7% of adults 61+; up to ~25% in young adults", "context": "Quantifies the adulthood decline: motion sickness is reported as a frequent problem about twice as often in younger adults as in those over 60.", "source_name": "Bárány Society Classification Committee, \"Motion sickness diagnostic criteria: Consensus Document\" (Journal of Vestibular Research / PMC)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9249300/", "source_year": "2021" } ] }, { "key": "sex", "title": "Sex differences and pregnancy", "stats": [ { "metric": "Female vs. male motion sickness susceptibility", "figure": "27.3% (females) vs. 16.8% (males)", "context": "In a 1997 study of 535 individuals across multiple population groups, women were more prone to motion sickness than men (27.3% vs. 16.8%), illustrating the well-documented sex difference in susceptibility.", "source_name": "Sharma K, Aparna. \"Prevalence and Correlates of Susceptibility to Motion Sickness.\" Acta Geneticae Medicae et Gemellologiae (Twin Research)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9492893/", "source_year": "1997" }, { "metric": "Share of the sex difference explained by the menstrual cycle", "figure": "~one-third (1/3)", "context": "Motion sickness susceptibility in women peaks around menstruation and is lowest pre-menstrually, but this cyclic fluctuation explains only about one-third of why women are more susceptible than men overall, implicating additional hormonal/biological factors.", "source_name": "Golding JF, Kadzere P, Gresty MA. \"Motion sickness susceptibility fluctuates through the menstrual cycle.\" Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 76(10):970-973", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16235881/", "source_year": "2005" }, { "metric": "Motion sickness history and risk of severe nausea/vomiting of pregnancy", "figure": "OR 3.17 (95% CI 1.81 to 5.56, p < 0.0001)", "context": "Among 2,381 pregnant women, a personal history of motion sickness was associated with more than triple the odds of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (OR 3.17), consistent with a shared susceptibility, possibly vestibular, between the two conditions.", "source_name": "Laitinen et al., Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, \"Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: associations with personal history of nausea and affected relatives\"", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7471164/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "First-trimester prevalence of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy", "figure": "78.5% (first trimester); general range 50-90%", "context": "Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is extremely common: 78.5% of women report it during the first trimester (52.2% mild, 45.3% moderate, 2.5% severe), with the broader literature placing the range at 50-90%. The cited paper documents NVP prevalence and determinants; it does not itself establish a mechanistic overlap with motion sickness.", "source_name": "Lacasse et al., BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, \"Epidemiology of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: prevalence, severity, determinants, and the importance of race/ethnicity\"", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2713199/", "source_year": "2009" }, { "metric": "Menstruation as the peak-susceptibility cycle phase", "figure": "Susceptibility highest at day 5 (menstruation), lowest at day 26 (pre-menstrual)", "context": "Within-cycle hormonal variation shifts motion sickness risk, peaking during menstruation, helping explain day-to-day variability women report. (Small study, n=12; the authors note this cycle variation accounts for only about a third of the overall sex difference.)", "source_name": "Golding, Kadzere & Gresty, Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, \"Motion sickness susceptibility fluctuates through the menstrual cycle\"", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16235881/", "source_year": "2005" } ] }, { "key": "car", "title": "Cars and road travel", "stats": [ { "metric": "Carsickness incidence in car passengers (past 5 years)", "figure": "46% (rising to 59% when childhood is included)", "context": "In a large five-country survey, nearly half of adults reported some degree of carsickness as a car passenger within the previous five years, and almost six in ten when childhood experiences are counted.", "source_name": "Schmidt, Kuiper, Wolter, Diels & Bos, 'An international survey on the incidence and modulating factors of carsickness,' Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Vol. 71, pp. 76-87", "source_url": "https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/an-international-survey-on-the-incidence-and-modulating-factors-o", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "Why drivers rarely get carsick (controllability)", "figure": "Controllers reported significantly fewer symptoms than passively-exposed (yoked) passengers", "context": "A controlled experiment isolated control over the motion as the key reason drivers are largely immune to carsickness while passengers are not.", "source_name": "Rolnick A & Lubow RE, 'Why is the driver rarely motion sick? The role of controllability in motion sickness,' Ergonomics", "source_url": "https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139108964831", "source_year": "1991" }, { "metric": "Sickness among public road / coach passengers", "figure": "28.4% reported feelings of illness; 12.8% nausea; 1.7% vomiting", "context": "A large field study of UK bus and coach journeys quantified how common travel sickness symptoms are among ordinary road-transport passengers.", "source_name": "Turner M & Griffin MJ, 'Motion sickness in public road transport: the effect of driver, route and vehicle,' Ergonomics (PubMed)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10643406/", "source_year": "1999" }, { "metric": "Reading/screen use in cars as a sickness trigger", "figure": "Reading in a moving vehicle is a recognized aggravating factor; avoiding it is a standard countermeasure", "context": "Visual-vestibular conflict from looking down at text or screens rather than the road ahead is a documented driver of carsickness, which is why looking forward is advised.", "source_name": "Takov V, Tadi P. 'Motion Sickness.' StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf)", "source_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539706/", "source_year": "2023" }, { "metric": "Carsickness risk in self-driving cars / rideshare-style riding", "figure": "More than 1/3 of Americans would do sickness-inducing activities; 6-12% expected to get moderate/severe sickness", "context": "As riders become passengers (autonomous vehicles, rideshare) and turn to reading, texting and screens, motion sickness is projected to become more common. Based on a six-country survey of intended in-vehicle activities; figures are projections, not measured incidence.", "source_name": "Sivak M & Schoettle B, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), 'Motion Sickness in Self-Driving Vehicles' (Report UMTRI-2015-12)", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" } ] }, { "key": "sea", "title": "Sea travel and cruises", "stats": [ { "metric": "Seasickness in rough seas", "figure": "approaches 100%", "context": "In a study of expedition cruise-ship passengers crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica during rough seas, the paper reports that the prevalence of motion sickness approaches 100% under rough-sea conditions; in this cohort, motion-sickness risk was statistically associated with age and sex.", "source_name": "Gahlinger PM, \"Cabin Location and the Likelihood of Motion Sickness in Cruise Ship Passengers,\" Journal of Travel Medicine, 7(3):120-124 (260 passengers)", "source_url": "https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article-abstract/7/3/120/1795529", "source_year": "2000" }, { "metric": "Vomiting among sea passengers (large survey)", "figure": "7% vomited; 21% felt slightly unwell", "context": "In the largest field survey of seasickness ever conducted, 7% of passengers vomited; 21% reported feeling slightly unwell and a further 8% quite ill or worse (20,029 passengers).", "source_name": "Lawther A, Griffin MJ, \"A survey of the occurrence of motion sickness amongst passengers at sea,\" Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 59(5):399-406 (PMID 3390095)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3390095/", "source_year": "1988" }, { "metric": "Sea sickness severity in navy personnel", "figure": "19.31% needed medication; 1.91% excused from duty", "context": "Among Indian Navy personnel assessed for sea sickness, most cases were mild, but roughly 1 in 5 (19.31%) had moderately severe symptoms requiring medication and rest, and a small fraction (1.91%) had severe symptoms requiring them to be excused from duties.", "source_name": "Gupta AK, Kumar BV, Rajguru R, Parate KD. \"Assessment of Sea Sickness in Naval Personnel: Incidence and Management.\" Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2021;25(2):119-124 (PMID 34421250; 500 personnel)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34421250/", "source_year": "2021" }, { "metric": "Seasickness on research vessels", "figure": "84% (91.7% of women, 80.8% of men)", "context": "Among scientists working aboard French oceanographic research vessels, the large majority reported experiencing seasickness, with women at significantly higher risk than men.", "source_name": "Lucas D et al., \"Seasickness and its impact on researchers' work on board French oceanographic vessels,\" International Maritime Health 2020;71(3):160-165 (PMID 33001426; 223 respondents)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33001426/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "Seasickness among civilian seafarers", "figure": "34% affected; women 60% vs men 31%", "context": "In a survey of 119 French civilian seafarers (109 men, 10 women), about a third (34%) reported seasickness and 30% experienced it regularly. Prevalence was higher in women (60%) than men (31%), though the female estimate rests on only 10 women in the sample and should be read with caution. Main symptoms: nausea 87.5%, cold sweats 50%, yawning 42.5%.", "source_name": "Jan Le Cloirec M, et al. \"The prevalence of seasickness in a population of French civilian sailors.\" International Maritime Health 2024;75(3):147-154 (reported by Nautilus International)", "source_url": "https://journals.viamedica.pl/international_maritime_health/article/view/99481", "source_year": "2024" } ] }, { "key": "air", "title": "Air travel and turbulence", "stats": [ { "metric": "Airsickness symptoms on commercial short-haul flights", "figure": "0.5% vomited, 8.4% reported nausea, 16.2% reported feeling ill", "context": "In a survey of fare-paying passengers on UK short-haul (mostly turboprop) flights, most passengers were fine, but a meaningful minority felt unwell, with illness rates on individual flights ranging from 0% up to 47.8% depending on the aircraft and conditions.", "source_name": "Turner M, Griffin MJ, Holland I. 'Airsickness and aircraft motion during short-haul flights.' Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 71(12):1181-9", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11439716/", "source_year": "2000" }, { "metric": "Airsickness incidence in military student pilots (basic flight training)", "figure": "34.8%", "context": "Among Italian Air Force student pilots, more than one in three experienced airsickness during basic flight training, with no significant difference between men and women in overall incidence.", "source_name": "Lucertini M, Lugli V, Casagrande M, Trivelloni P, 'Effects of Airsickness in Male and Female Student Pilots: Adaptation Rates and 4-Year Outcomes,' Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (PubMed)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18619127/", "source_year": "2008" }, { "metric": "Slow adaptation to airsickness, by sex, in student pilots", "figure": "12.5% of women vs 3.3% of men were 'slow adaptors'", "context": "Overall airsickness incidence during basic flight training was 34.8% with no significant gender difference, but among those who got airsick, women were nearly four times as likely to adapt slowly to the motion environment over training, highlighting a sex difference in recovery/adaptation rather than initial susceptibility.", "source_name": "Lucertini M, Lugli V, Casagrande M, Trivelloni P, 'Effects of Airsickness in Male and Female Student Pilots: Adaptation Rates and 4-Year Outcomes,' Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 2008;79(7):677-84 (PubMed PMID 18619127)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18619127/", "source_year": "2008" }, { "metric": "Turbulence as a share of U.S. air carrier (Part 121) accidents", "figure": "More than a third (about 38%) of accidents, 2009-2018", "context": "An NTSB safety study found that turbulence-related accidents accounted for more than a third (about 38%) of all U.S. air carrier (Part 121) accidents from 2009 through 2018, with most of these accidents resulting in one or more serious injuries but no aircraft damage.", "source_name": "National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Safety Study SS-21-01, 'Preventing Turbulence-Related Injuries in Air Carrier Operations Conducted Under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121'", "source_url": "https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/DCA18SS003.aspx", "source_year": "2021" }, { "metric": "Who gets seriously hurt in turbulence: crew vs. passengers", "figure": "Flight attendants ~79% of serious turbulence injuries; passengers ~21%", "context": "Serious turbulence injuries fall overwhelmingly on flight attendants (who are often up and moving), not seated passengers; the NTSB noted nearly all injured passengers were unbelted when turbulence hit.", "source_name": "NTSB Safety Study SS-21-01, Preventing Turbulence-Related Injuries in Air Carrier Operations (2009 to 2018)", "source_url": "https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS2101.pdf", "source_year": "2021" } ] }, { "key": "vr", "title": "Screens, VR and cybersickness", "stats": [ { "metric": "Cybersickness pervasiveness in a controlled VR study", "figure": "65.2% experienced it; 23.9% severely", "context": "In a 10-minute head-mounted VR immersion, roughly two-thirds of participants developed cybersickness and nearly a quarter reached severe levels, underscoring how common the problem is.", "source_name": "Garrido et al., \"Focusing on cybersickness: pervasiveness, latent trajectories, susceptibility, and effects on the virtual reality experience,\" Virtual Reality (journal)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8886867/", "source_year": "2022" }, { "metric": "Premature discontinuation (dropout) due to cybersickness", "figure": "22.8% could not complete a 10-minute VR immersion", "context": "Cybersickness is severe enough that a meaningful share of users must stop a VR session early; in this study nearly 1 in 4 reached the maximum-symptom threshold (Fast Motion Sickness Scale score of 15+) before the 10 minutes were up.", "source_name": "Garrido et al., \"Focusing on cybersickness: pervasiveness, latent trajectories, susceptibility, and effects on the virtual reality experience,\" Virtual Reality (Springer)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8886867/", "source_year": "2022" }, { "metric": "Pooled VR sickness severity across studies (meta-analysis)", "figure": "Pooled total SSQ mean = 28.00 (95% CI 24.66-31.35)", "context": "A meta-analysis of the head-mounted-display literature pooled SSQ scores across 55 studies and 3,016 participants, establishing an average total sickness score the authors described as 'relatively high.'", "source_name": "Saredakis et al., \"Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\" Frontiers in Human Neuroscience", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7145389/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "VR sickness varies sharply by content type", "figure": "Gaming SSQ 34.26 vs Scenic 17.33", "context": "The same meta-analysis shows VR sickness roughly doubles depending on content: action gaming provokes the most sickness while passive/scenic content provokes the least.", "source_name": "Saredakis et al., \"Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\" Frontiers in Human Neuroscience", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7145389/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "VR sickness varies by locomotion / movement type", "figure": "Controller movement SSQ 32.55 vs Walking 16.99", "context": "Artificial controller-driven movement (a major sensory-conflict trigger) produces roughly twice the sickness of natural real-walking locomotion, showing locomotion design strongly drives cybersickness.", "source_name": "Saredakis et al., \"Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\" Frontiers in Human Neuroscience", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7145389/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "Sex difference: women's VR sickness vs men's", "figure": "Women's post-VR sickness ~2x that of men (52.11 vs 24.93 SSQ)", "context": "Women report markedly more cybersickness than men immediately after VR; the researchers attribute much of this to headset fit, since a far greater share of women cannot properly set the headset's interpupillary distance (33.3% of women vs 0% of men in the study).", "source_name": "Stanney, Fidopiastis & Foster, \"Virtual Reality Is Sexist: But It Does Not Have to Be,\" Frontiers in Robotics and AI", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7805626/", "source_year": "2020" }, { "metric": "VR sickness varies by headset model", "figure": "Meta Quest Pro lowered total SSQ by 11.24 points vs Quest 2", "context": "Hardware choice measurably changes cybersickness: a headset with continuous interpupillary-distance adjustment produced significantly lower sickness than one with only fixed IPD settings.", "source_name": "Stallo, Kardong-Edgren & Bauman, \"The Impact of Virtual Reality Headset Selection on Cybersickness Severity,\" Society for Simulation in Healthcare", "source_url": "https://ssih.org/news/impact-virtual-reality-headset-selection-cybersickness-severity", "source_year": "2024" }, { "metric": "Visually induced motion sickness after watching a 3D movie (vs. 2D)", "figure": "54.8% reported sickness symptoms (SSQ total score >15) after the 3D movie vs. 14.1% after the 2D movie (n=497)", "context": "In a prospective crossover observational study of 497 healthy adult volunteers, more than half developed visually induced motion-sickness symptoms (SSQ total score >15) after a 3D cinema movie, nearly four times the rate after the same content in 2D (3.9x). Symptom intensity rose to 8.8x baseline after 3D vs. 2x after 2D.", "source_name": "PLOS ONE (Solimini AG), \"Are There Side Effects to Watching 3D Movies? A Prospective Crossover Observational Study on Visually Induced Motion Sickness\"", "source_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0056160", "source_year": "2013" }, { "metric": "Reported prevalence range of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) across visual-display conditions", "figure": "Can vary from 1% to 80% depending on circumstances", "context": "A peer-reviewed Human Factors paper characterizes how widely VIMS prevalence swings across laboratory studies of visual displays, driven by VR equipment, experimental setup, and visual content. The 1%-80% range is the paper's synthesis of heterogeneous prior studies (1% from Kluver et al., 2015; up to 80% from Cobb, 1999 and Stanney et al.), not a single point-prevalence estimate.", "source_name": "Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (Keshavarz, Murovec, Mohanathas, Golding), \"The Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ)\"", "source_url": "https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00187208211008687", "source_year": "2023" }, { "metric": "Visual-device use stopped/reduced due to VIMS symptoms", "figure": "29.5% of surveyed visual-device users", "context": "In the VIMSSQ validation survey (N=322), 29.5% of users said motion-sickness-like symptoms (e.g. nausea, dizziness, eyestrain) caused them to stop or significantly reduce use of certain visual devices, 3D movies were the most frequently avoided (14.3%), followed by smartphones, IMAX theaters, simulators, video games, and VR.", "source_name": "Keshavarz, Murovec, Mohanathas & Golding, The Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ), Human Factors", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9846380/", "source_year": "2023" } ] }, { "key": "space", "title": "Space motion sickness", "stats": [ { "metric": "Share of crewmembers affected by Space Adaptation Sickness (SAS) during spaceflight", "figure": "70-90% of crewmembers", "context": "NASA's official OCHMO Medical Technical Brief (OCHMO-MTB-004, Rev A, 09/25/2025) states that Space Adaptation Sickness affects 70-90% of crewmembers during spaceflight, ranging from mild to severe, with initial symptoms in most crew in the first 3-7 days. (Note: the same brief's executive summary phrases this as affecting 'up to 73% of crewmembers during the first 2-3 days.')", "source_name": "NASA Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer (OCHMO) Medical Technical Brief, OCHMO-MTB-004: Space Adaptation Sickness (SAS), Rev A", "source_url": "https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ochmo-mtb-004-space-adaptation-sickness-sas.pdf", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "Share of astronauts affected by Space Motion Sickness (SMS) in the first 72 hours", "figure": "around 70% of astronauts", "context": "A peer-reviewed systematic review in Frontiers in Neural Circuits states that SMS affects around 70% of astronauts within the first 72 hours of traveling to and returning from microgravity. (This is cited in the review's introduction as established background prevalence from prior space-medicine literature, not a pooled estimate from the review's own analysis.)", "source_name": "Frontiers in Neural Circuits, Khalid et al., \"Pharmacological and non-pharmacological countermeasures to Space Motion Sickness: a systematic review,\" 2023 (vol. 17, art. 1150233; PMID 37396400)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10311550/", "source_year": "2023" } ] }, { "key": "av", "title": "Self-driving cars", "stats": [ { "metric": "US adults expected to often experience motion sickness in fully self-driving vehicles", "figure": "6% to 10%", "context": "University of Michigan researchers calculated the share of American adults who would often, usually, or always feel some level of motion sickness once they become passengers in fully self-driving cars and engage in non-driving activities.", "source_name": "Sivak & Schoettle, \"Motion Sickness in Self-Driving Vehicles,\" University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI-2015-12)", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" }, { "metric": "US adults expected to experience moderate or severe motion sickness at some time in self-driving vehicles", "figure": "6%-12%", "context": "The UMTRI analysis estimated that 6%-12% of American adults riding in fully self-driving vehicles would be expected to experience moderate or severe (not just mild) motion sickness at some time, based on expected frequencies of non-driving activities from a six-country survey.", "source_name": "Sivak & Schoettle, \"Motion Sickness in Self-Driving Vehicles,\" University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI-2015-12)", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" }, { "metric": "US adults who would do activities that increase motion sickness risk in a self-driving vehicle", "figure": "More than a third (>33%)", "context": "In the UMTRI survey of what people would do instead of driving in a fully self-driving vehicle, more than a third of Americans said they would engage in motion-sickness-inducing activities such as reading, texting, watching movies/TV, playing games, or working. The researchers projected that roughly 6-12% of US adults would experience moderate or severe motion sickness as a result.", "source_name": "Sivak & Schoettle, UMTRI-2015-12, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" }, { "metric": "AV passengers globally choosing motion-sickness-inducing activities (international comparison)", "figure": "More than half of Indians; ~40% of Chinese; 26%-30% in Japan, Great Britain and Australia (vs. more than one-third of Americans)", "context": "A UMTRI survey of more than 3,200 adults across six countries (U.S., India, China, Japan, Great Britain, Australia) asked what people would do instead of driving in a fully self-driving vehicle. Large shares in every market said they would read, text, watch video, game, or work,activities that raise the likelihood and severity of motion sickness,indicating the AV motion-sickness problem is global, not just American.", "source_name": "Sivak & Schoettle, UMTRI-2015-12, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" }, { "metric": "Expert/peer-reviewed projection on AV adoption and motion sickness", "figure": "Potential to \"greatly increase\" the incidence", "context": "A peer-reviewed Ergonomics study frames the core forecast: as automation transforms drivers into passengers, AV deployment is expected to sharply raise how common motion sickness becomes.", "source_name": "Jones, Le, Ebert, Sienko, Reed & Sayer, \"Motion sickness in passenger vehicles during test track operations,\" Ergonomics (PubMed PMID 31282785)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31282785/", "source_year": "2019" }, { "metric": "Why AV passengers can't simply self-manage symptoms (mechanism)", "figure": "Loss of control over direction of motion is one of three motion-sickness factors UMTRI says are elevated in self-driving vehicles", "context": "UMTRI identifies that giving up driving control removes the rider's ability to anticipate and counteract motion. Per the report, the three main factors contributing to motion sickness (vestibular-visual conflict, inability to anticipate the direction of motion, and lack of control over the direction of motion) are all elevated in self-driving vehicles, underscoring why the problem is structural rather than incidental.", "source_name": "Sivak & Schoettle, \"Motion Sickness in Self-Driving Vehicles,\" UMTRI-2015-12 (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute)", "source_url": "https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/111747", "source_year": "2015" } ] }, { "key": "habituation", "title": "Adaptation and after-effects", "stats": [ { "metric": "Time to develop sea legs / habituate to ship motion", "figure": "a few days are usually needed before a significant level of adaptation is achieved", "context": "With prolonged exposure to the same provocative motion, individuals tend to adapt and symptoms subside, but the course of adaptation varies and a few days are usually needed before a significant level of adaptation is achieved.", "source_name": "Leung AKC & Hon KL, \"Motion sickness: an overview,\" Drugs in Context 2019;8:2019-9-4 (peer-reviewed review; NCBI/PMC, PMID 32158479)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7048153/", "source_year": "2019" }, { "metric": "Habituation success vs. failure rate (seasickness)", "figure": "~50% habituate; at least 5% show no habituation", "context": "Adaptation is far from universal: roughly half of the population may succeed in habituating to seasickness, while at least 5% of people with motion sickness show no signs of habituation at all.", "source_name": "Leung AKC & Hon KL, \"Motion sickness: an overview,\" Drugs in Context (peer-reviewed review, NCBI/PMC)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7048153/", "source_year": "2019" }, { "metric": "Mal de debarquement (transient land-sickness) incidence after a sea voyage", "figure": "reported by 72% of subjects; in most cases the sensation appeared immediately on disembarking and generally lasted a few hours", "context": "The flip side of habituation: after the brain adapts to ship motion, many people feel lingering rocking/swaying on returning to land, which is usually short-lived. The authors interpret M-D as adaptive central-nervous-system multisensorimotor plasticity in response to an abnormal motion environment.", "source_name": "Gordon CR, Spitzer O, Doweck I, Melamed Y, Shupak A. \"Clinical features of mal de debarquement: adaptation and habituation to sea conditions.\" Journal of Vestibular Research. 1995 Sep-Oct;5(5):363-369 (survey of 116 seagoing-vessel crew members). PubMed PMID: 8528477; DOI: 10.3233/VES-1995-5503", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8528477/", "source_year": "1995" }, { "metric": "Persistent Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS), illness duration and demographics", "figure": "mean illness duration 35.4 ± 46.4 months (motion-triggered onset) vs 82.8 ± 64.2 months (spontaneous/non-motion-triggered onset); 81% female; mean age of onset 43.4 ± 12.2 years (motion-triggered) / 42.1 ± 15.2 years (non-motion-triggered)", "context": "Among people diagnosed with persistent MdDS, symptoms last on average from roughly 3 years (motion-triggered) to nearly 7 years (spontaneous onset), and the condition overwhelmingly affects women in mid-life.", "source_name": "Cha YH, Cui YY, Baloh RW. \"Comprehensive Clinical Profile of Mal De Debarquement Syndrome.\" Frontiers in Neurology. 2018;9:261.", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5950831/", "source_year": "2018" } ] }, { "key": "cost", "title": "Occupational and economic impact", "stats": [ { "metric": "Simulator sickness symptom rate in a military flight simulator", "figure": "59.9% experienced at least one symptom; 69% reported a history of symptoms", "context": "In an army helicopter simulator, the majority of aircrew reported simulator-sickness symptoms (mostly rated as slight), showing that motion-related symptoms are common even in ground-based training devices.", "source_name": "Braithwaite & Braithwaite, \"Simulator sickness in an army simulator,\" Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine (PubMed PMID 2214692)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2214692/", "source_year": "1990" }, { "metric": "Seasickness prevalence in naval personnel", "figure": "40.44%", "context": "In a study of 1,293 healthy male sailors at Khulna Naval Base, more than four in ten (523 sailors) reported seasickness, with most cases minor but a notable share requiring temporary duty exemption.", "source_name": "Malek MA, Maruf AA, Hossain MM. \"Sea Sickness in Naval Personnel.\" Journal of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh, 5(2):32-35", "source_url": "https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAFMC/article/view/4581", "source_year": "2010" }, { "metric": "Seasickness susceptibility in military seafarers (first days at sea)", "figure": "36% susceptible early; 17% poorly adapted later", "context": "In a study of 179 navy recruits on extended sea duty (median ~30 days), 36% were susceptible to seasickness in the early period and 17% remained poorly adapted in the late period; 39% were never treated for seasickness, implying about 61% required treatment during the observation period.", "source_name": "Park CY, et al. \"Association of Depression With Susceptibility and Adaptation to Seasickness in the Military Seafarers,\" Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2022;37(28):e231 (PMC9313975)", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9313975/", "source_year": "2022" }, { "metric": "Documented motion-sickness (simulator-sickness) incidents in U.S. Navy flight simulators", "figure": "~1,200 simulator flights recorded across 10 simulators at 6 U.S. Naval/Marine Corps Air Stations", "context": "A landmark U.S. Navy survey systematically documented simulator-sickness symptoms across aircrew at 10 flight simulators, establishing simulator sickness as a measurable cost to military training. Helicopter simulators with CRT infinity optics and six-degrees-of-freedom moving-base systems showed the highest incidence, while fixed-wing, fixed-base dome displays showed relatively low incidence. This foundational dataset, by the same lead authors, helped lay the groundwork for the later (1993) Simulator Sickness Questionnaire.", "source_name": "Kennedy RS, Lilienthal MG, Berbaum KS, Baltzley DR, McCauley ME, \"Simulator sickness in U.S. Navy flight simulators,\" Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 1989;60(1):10-16 (PubMed)", "source_url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2923588/", "source_year": "1989" } ] }, { "key": "treatments", "title": "Treatments and side effects", "stats": [ { "metric": "Most common side effect of motion-sickness medication", "figure": "Drowsiness/sedation is the most common side effect", "context": "The U.S. CDC's authoritative travel-medicine reference states that the leading drawback of the antihistamines and scopolamine used to prevent motion sickness is sedation, and ranks the agents by how sedating they are.", "source_name": "CDC Yellow Book (CDC Health Information for International Travel), Motion Sickness chapter", "source_url": "https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-air-sea/motion-sickness.html", "source_year": "2025" }, { "metric": "First-generation antihistamine occupancy of brain H1 receptors", "figure": "More than 70% of CNS H1 receptors occupied", "context": "PET imaging shows first-generation H1 antihistamines (the class that includes dimenhydrinate, meclizine, and diphenhydramine used for motion sickness) heavily cross into the brain, which is why they so commonly cause drowsiness and impair cognition and psychomotor performance.", "source_name": "Simons FER, Simons KJ. \"H1 Antihistamines: Current Status and Future Directions\" (World Allergy Organization Journal, 2008;1(9):145-155), via PMC", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3650962/", "source_year": "2008" }, { "metric": "Pilots prohibited from first-generation antihistamines for motion sickness", "figure": "Military and commercial airline pilots are prohibited from using them", "context": "Because of the sedating central-nervous-system effects of the antihistamines (dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, meclizine, promethazine) commonly used against motion sickness, pilots are barred from taking them, a concrete marker of how impairing the drowsiness side effect is.", "source_name": "Simons FER, Simons KJ. \"Antihistamines: Current Status and Future Directions\" (World Allergy Organization Journal), via PMC", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3650962/", "source_year": "2008" }, { "metric": "Scopolamine efficacy and side-effect profile vs. other agents", "figure": "14 randomized controlled trials, 1,025 subjects; more effective than placebo", "context": "A Cochrane systematic review found scopolamine (patch, tablet, oral or IV) prevents motion-sickness symptoms better than placebo and was no more likely than other agents to cause drowsiness, blurred vision, or dizziness, though dry mouth was more common.", "source_name": "Cochrane Review, \"Scopolamine for preventing and treating motion sickness\" (Spinks A, Wasiak J; CD002851)", "source_url": "https://www.cochrane.org/CD002851/ENT_scopolamine-for-preventing-and-treating-motion-sickness", "source_year": "2022" }, { "metric": "Evidence base for drug-free / complementary remedies", "figure": "Acupressure bands no more effective than placebo; ginger/supplement evidence weak and contradictory", "context": "Despite widespread use of drug-free remedies (ginger, acupressure/P6 wristbands, vitamins), the CDC's travel-medicine reference concludes the supporting evidence is weak, and lab trials show acupressure performs no better than placebo.", "source_name": "CDC Yellow Book (CDC Health Information for International Travel), Motion Sickness chapter", "source_url": "https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-air-sea/motion-sickness.html", "source_year": "2026" }, { "metric": "Global motion-sickness treatment market size", "figure": "Estimated US$755.4 million in 2023, projected to reach US$863.2 million by 2030 (1.9% CAGR)", "context": "Industry market-sizing of the (largely OTC) motion-sickness treatment category, indicating the commercial scale of medication and remedy use; this is a commercial market-research report figure rather than peer-reviewed data, and estimates vary widely across firms and report scopes.", "source_name": "Global Industry Analysts / Research and Markets - Motion Sickness Treatment: Global Strategic Business Report (distributed via GlobeNewswire)", "source_url": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/18/2998826/28124/en/The-Global-Market-for-Motion-Sickness-Treatment-2024-2030-Increasing-Preference-for-OTC-Solutions-Strengthens-Business-Case.html", "source_year": "2024" }, { "metric": "Share of seamen using OTC medication for seasickness", "figure": "22% took over-the-counter medications for seasickness (prescription medication use was minimal)", "context": "In a survey of Icelandic seamen, where 87.8% had experienced seasickness in their lives, only about one-fifth self-treated with OTC remedies and prescription anti-seasickness drugs were rarely used.", "source_name": "PLOS ONE, \"Seasickness among Icelandic seamen\" (Arnardottir, Jonsdottir & Petersen)", "source_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0273477", "source_year": "2022" }, { "metric": "Share of ARC 2015 seasickness sufferers who used any remedy/prevention", "figure": "Among ARC 2015 sailors who got seasick, 57% used some form of prevention strategy or remedy and 43% used nothing", "context": "In Yachting World's survey of the 2015 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, 119 of 456 respondents (26%) experienced seasickness. Of those 119, 67 (57%) used some form of prevention strategy or remedy and 52 (43%) used none. The most common remedies were Stugeron (cinnarizine) and scopolamine patches.", "source_name": "Yachting World, ARC 2015 transatlantic seasickness survey", "source_url": "https://www.yachtingworld.com/features/feeling-rough-take-edge-off-seasickness-survey-76032", "source_year": "2016" }, { "metric": "Self-treatment rate during travel among general public", "figure": "85.7% took nothing en route; only 14.3% used any remedy, mostly non-drug measures", "context": "In an interview-based cross-sectional survey of 349 Saudi residents (Riyadh region), 23.5% reported severe dizziness during metro travel, yet across the full sample 85.7% took nothing before or during travel to feel better. The 14.3% who did self-treat mostly used non-drug measures (gum 8.3%, coffee 3.4%, water 1.4%, ginger drink 0.6%) rather than medication.", "source_name": "Healthcare (Basel), MDPI / PMC, \"Prevalence of Motion Sickness Among Saudi Residents: An Interview-Based Cross-Sectional Study\"", "source_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12652252/", "source_year": "2025" } ] }, { "key": "pets", "title": "Pets and motion sickness", "stats": [ { "metric": "Dogs with travel-related problems", "figure": "43.6% of dogs (n=155)", "context": "In a peer-reviewed Italian survey of 155 dogs, more than 4 in 10 (43.6%) showed travel-related problems during car transport, with signs including panting (47.7%), restlessness (43.1%) and vocalization (40%).", "source_name": "Cannas S, Evangelista M, Accorsi PA, Michelazzi M. \"An epidemiology study on travel anxiety and motion sickness,\" Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 2010;5(1):25-26", "source_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2009.10.037", "source_year": "2010" }, { "metric": "Motion sickness is more common in younger dogs/puppies than adults (vestibular cause)", "figure": "Puppies often outgrow it by about 1 year of age", "context": "VCA Animal Hospitals, a major veterinary hospital network, states that motion (car) sickness is more common in younger dogs than in adults, possibly because the parts of the inner ear involved in balance are not yet fully developed, and that puppies often outgrow it by the time they are about 1 year old.", "source_name": "VCA Animal Hospitals, \"Motion Sickness in Dogs\" (Barnes C, Hunter T, Ward E, DVMs)", "source_url": "https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/motion-sickness-in-dogs", "source_year": "2024" } ] } ] }