Previously submitted to: JMIR Mental Health (no longer under consideration since Jun 26, 2025)
Date Submitted: Jun 26, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Jun 26, 2025 - Jun 26, 2025
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Exploring the Potential Impact of a Virtual Reality Mindfulness Intervention on Adolescent Anxiety: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of the SpiritVR Journey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Adolescent anxiety is on the rise, yet access to effective and youth-friendly mental health interventions remains limited. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising platform to deliver immersive mindfulness-based programmes that support emotional regulation and wellbeing.
Objective:
This study evaluated the effectiveness and user experience of SpiritVR Journey, a six-session VR mindfulness intervention, delivered in real-world school and community settings.
Methods:
Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected across 148 observations using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), while qualitative feedback was obtained through open-ended responses and diary entries.
Results:
Repeated measures analyses showed a consistent reduction in anxiety symptoms across sessions, with an average GAD-7 reduction of 4.88 points, reflecting a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.03). Qualitative analysis revealed strong engagement, emotional relief, and perceived benefits from practices such as breathwork and present-moment awareness, with many participants applying mindfulness strategies in their daily lives. The immersive and multisensory format was particularly beneficial for individuals who had previously struggled with traditional interventions.
Conclusions:
These findings provide preliminary evidence that SpiritVR Journey is a feasible, acceptable, and scalable approach to reducing anxiety in adolescents. Its successful deployment in non-clinical environments highlights the real-world potential of VR-based mental health interventions. Further research using randomised controlled trials and long-term follow-up is recommended to establish efficacy and generalisability.
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