In-Person and Virtual World Mindfulness Training: Trust, Satisfaction, and Learning

Area of Science:

• Telehealth and Virtual Reality
• Military Mental Health
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Background:

• Virtual worlds (VWs) are cost-effective for telehealth, yet their effectiveness for military personnel requires further study.
• Trust is crucial in virtual interactions, posing unique challenges compared to in-person communication.
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a valuable intervention for military populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare trust, class satisfaction, and learning in U.S. military service members undergoing MBSR training.
• To evaluate outcomes between in-person (IP) delivery and virtual world (VW) delivery (Second Life).
• To explore the role of trust in virtual and in-person learning environments.

Main Methods:

• 92 active duty and veteran U.S. Military service members participated.
• An 8-week MBSR course was delivered either in-person or via the VW Second Life.
• Self-reported measures of trust, class satisfaction, and didactic learning were collected.

Main Results:

• Learning performance did not significantly differ between IP and VW groups.
• The IP group reported significantly higher trust and class satisfaction than the VW group.
• Trust, satisfaction, and learning were correlated; instructor trust predicted other trust measures and satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• In-person MBSR training fostered greater trust and satisfaction than VW delivery for military personnel.
• Establishing trust, particularly in the instructor, is paramount for successful group training in VWs.
• Strategies like collaboration and clear communication are vital for building trust in virtual settings.