Effects of virtual reality mindfulness interventions on depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis
European Journal of Psychotraumatology May 26, 2026 Xiuchuan He, Yuanli Ren, Qian Bian et al.
This exploratory meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials with 864 participants found that virtual reality-based mindfulness interventions were associated with significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Larger effects appeared among older adults and in studies conducted in Eastern regions. Both immersive and semi-immersive VR formats were effective. Interventions of short (≤4 weeks) and moderate (>6 to ≤8 weeks) duration showed benefits, and session lengths of 30 minutes or less were linked to greater symptom reduction. The authors suggest VR-based mindfulness could serve as an accessible adjunctive approach, but note that high-quality studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm sustained effects.