A pilot study: virtual reality-based intervention to boost optimism and alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression in...

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the short- and long-term effectiveness of a Positive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PCBT)-based virtual reality (VR) intervention in enhancing optimism and improving mental health outcomes among undergraduate students with low baseline optimism, compared with a task-based VR control.

Twenty-eight full-time undergraduate students with low optimism [Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) ≤ 13] were randomly assigned to a PCBT-based VR intervention (n = 15) or a task-based VR control (n = 13). Participants completed six weekly 30-min VR sessions. Optimism, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for age, gender, and academic period were used to evaluate intervention effects across time.

All participants completed post-intervention assessments, and 25 (89.29%) completed the 6-month follow-up. The PCBT-based VR group demonstrated a significant short-term increase in optimism (β = 2.02, p = 0.01) and a significant reduction in depressive symptoms (β = -3.04, p = 0.01) compared with the control group. Anxiety showed a trend toward short-term reduction, while stress did not change significantly. Across the 6-month follow-up, the intervention group maintained higher overall optimism than controls; however, the group-by-time interaction was not significant, indicating similar long-term trajectories for optimism, stress, anxiety, and depression across groups.

A PCBT-based VR intervention produced meaningful short-term improvements in optimism and depressive symptoms among undergraduates with low optimism, with optimism gains sustained for 6 months. These findings suggest that VR-delivered positive psychology interventions may be a feasible and engaging approach to support student mental health. Larger, multi-site trials are needed to confirm efficacy and optimize long-term effects.