Immersive Mindfulness: The Effectiveness of VR-Based Techniques Compared to Traditional Mindfulness Practices

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) based mindfulness practices with traditional audio-guided mindfulness practices. A 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment was designed to examine the effects of Method (VR vs. Traditional) and Duration (8 vs. 16 minutes). Physiological data (heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, galvanic skin response, stress index) and self-report measures (Perceived Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) before and after interventions were recorded. Overall, trends emerged and indicated that the traditional audio-guided method was associated with greater reductions in breathing rate, heart rate variability, stress index, and z-normalized galvanic skin response (z-GSR). Specifically, traditional methods produced greater reductions in breathing rate (M = –5.84 vs. –2.90), heart rate variability, stress index, and galvanic skin response, while VR showed slightly more substantial decreases in heart rate. VR demonstrated high usability (SUS = 77.88). Both modalities achieved comparable physiological effects in brief sessions, with VR offering advantages in engagement and usability. Overall, these findings suggest that while VR provides an immersive and engaging mindfulness experience, its physiological effects in the present study were comparable to, or marginally weaker than, those observed with conventional audio-guided approaches. Future research should explore longer-term interventions and larger samples.

Keywords: Mindfulness Practices, Virtual Reality (VR), VR-based Interventions, Stress Reduction, Engagement, Mental Health, Traditional Mindfulness Techniques

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007654