Virtual reality-based mindfulness interventions on employees' well-being within organizational contexts: A scoping
Fernanda Sganzerla Chanquini1, Ana Pinto2, Telma Margarida Alves1
1Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Background:
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) promote well-being by reducing stress and improving emotional regulation. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to enhance workforce wellness interventions through immersive environments. However, the combined use of VR and MBIs in organizational settings remains underexplored, and further research is needed to clarify their potential to improve well-being.
Methods:
This scoping review aimed to identify evidence on how the application of virtual reality to MBIs could improve employees' well-being in organizational contexts. The review also mapped key concepts, research procedures, outcomes, and gaps, as well as the reported effectiveness of these interventions in promoting well-being. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework, studies were identified through structured searches in four databases: PubMed (1), EBSCO (6), Web of Science (10), and Scopus (78). Additional records were identified through gray literature (2), author contact (1), and independent search (4), resulting in 86 records without duplicates. After full-text screening, 14 studies were included. Backward and forward citation tracking were conducted, although no additional studies were selected. Tools, including Mendeley Reference Manager, Rayyan, and AI-assisted searches, supported the review process.
Results:
The final sample, published between 2017 and 2024, covered seven countries. All studies used head-mounted displays as the primary VR intervention device. Most were experimental and conducted within healthcare settings, implementing multimodal interventions integrating mindfulness with other well-being techniques.
Conclusions:
Research gaps and methodological limitations remain within this field, and a conceptual framework was proposed to guide future investigations and support the development of VR-based mindfulness interventions for employee well-being.
