Understanding How Virtual Reality Can Support Mindfulness Practice: Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychology

Background:

• Mindfulness practice offers mental health benefits but faces challenges like distractors.
• Virtual reality (VR) presents an immersive solution for mindfulness, aiding present-moment attention.
• Understanding VR's impact on mindfulness is crucial for effective app design and user acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how VR supports mindfulness practice.
• To identify user experience factors influencing VR mindfulness acceptability and efficacy.
• To assess VR mindfulness for general population users.

Main Methods:

• 37 general population participants used a VR mindfulness app in a lab setting.
• Pre- and post-VR measures included state mindfulness, simulator sickness, and emotions.
• Qualitative interviews with 19 participants explored user experience.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in state mindfulness and positive affect were observed post-VR.
• No significant changes in negative emotion, arousal, or simulator sickness.
• Participants found VR relaxing, using its elements as attentional anchors and enhancing presence.

Conclusions:

• VR apps can effectively support mindfulness, boosting state mindfulness and positive affect.
• VR's immersive nature and tailored environments help manage attention and reduce mind-wandering.
• VR uniquely combines guided practice with virtual environments to improve present-moment focus.