Mindfulness in Technology: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of VR-Assisted Meditation Among Veterans With Disabilities.
Uğur Doğan, Hung Jen Kuo
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2026 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.70266 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | US veterans with physical disabilities |
| Intervention | VR-assisted meditation |
| Duration | Weekly sessions, post-intervention and follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Disabled veterans Psychological well‐being Technology usability Virtual reality |
| Key findings | VR-assisted meditation improved psychological well-being and perceived system usability in veterans with disabilities compared with a no-intervention control, though gains diminished at follow-up. |
Abstract
Veterans with physical disabilities may experience substantial psychological burden (e.g., PTSD symptoms) and practical barriers to accessing conventional mental health services. VR-assisted meditation could offer a low-threshold alternative, but evidence in this population remains limited. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a VR-assisted meditation programme for veterans with disabilities. In a randomized controlled trial, 40 US veterans (mean age = 42 years) were assigned to either (a) weekly VR-assisted meditation sessions or (b) a no-intervention control condition. Psychological well-being (WHO-5), mindfulness (SMS), system usability (SUS) and user satisfaction (QUEST 2.0) were measured at baseline, post-intervention and follow-up. Compared with controls, the VR group showed higher post-intervention scores, with the clearest gains observed for psychological well-being and perceived system usability. Scores decreased slightly at follow-up but remained above the control condition. The pattern of benefits did not appear to differ by baseline anxiety level. VR-assisted meditation may be a feasible and acceptable approach for supporting well-being in veterans with disabilities. High perceived usability may support short-term engagement; however, the present findings are preliminary and do not establish clinical effectiveness or durability.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Meditation and interoception: a conceptual framework for the narrative and experiential self. Frontiers in Psychology October 16, 2024
- Mindfulness-based interventions for military veterans: A systematic review and analysis of the literature. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice February 2021
- Understanding How Virtual Reality Can Support Mindfulness Practice: Mixed Methods Study Journal of Medical Internet Research September 6, 2019
- Virtual Reality for Anxiety Reduction Demonstrated by Quantitative EEG: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Psychology 2018
and 2 more in the library