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Enhancing social functioning using multi-user, immersive virtual reality
D J Holt1,2, N R DeTore3,4, B Aideyan3,5
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA. dholt@mgh.harvard.edu.
Scientific Reports
|January 22, 2025
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) interventions show promise for improving social skills. A study found that the ROOM VR application enhanced social comfort and facial recognition in young adults, suggesting a scalable approach to social connection.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Virtual Reality Technology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Increasing rates of loneliness and social disconnection globally highlight the need for accessible interventions.
- Traditional behavioral interventions show potential for improving social functioning but face accessibility limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an immersive, multi-user virtual reality (VR) application for improving social functioning.
- To assess participant satisfaction and the impact of the VR intervention on social comfort, interpersonal distance, and facial affect recognition.
Main Methods:
- 33 young adults with social discomfort participated in a study using the Reconnecting with Ourselves and Others in virtual Meetings (ROOM) VR application.
- Participants engaged in a validated, mindfulness-based intervention delivered through VR.
- Data collected included satisfaction ratings, qualitative feedback, and quantitative measures of social functioning.
Main Results:
- High engagement with the ROOM VR application, with all participants attending over half the sessions.
- 90.3% of participants found the ROOM VR intervention beneficial and useful.
- Significant improvements were observed in real-world social comfort (p=0.02) and facial affect recognition accuracy (p=0.02).
Conclusions:
- Immersive, multi-user virtual reality interventions like ROOM are a feasible and scalable method for disseminating social skills.
- VR-based interventions can effectively improve social functioning and connection, addressing the growing need for accessible mental health tools.
