Virtual EMO-Mind: Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Mindfulness for Heart Rate Variability and Emotional Skills in Young Students
Amaiur Olarza, Goretti Soroa, Aitor Aritzeta, Rosa Mindeguia
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback January 3, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-025-09759-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 127 |
| Population | Primary school children aged 9-12 years (Years 5 and 6) |
| Intervention | Virtual reality-based mindfulness programme |
| Duration | Four virtual reality mindfulness sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Heart rate variability Clarity Psychological intervention Health psychology Intervention counseling Virtual reality Psychological resilience Clinical psychology Developmental psychology Psychophysiology Emotional regulation Autonomic nervous system Young adult |
| Key points | A short virtual reality-based mindfulness programme improved heart rate variability and emotional skills in children aged 9-12 years. |
Abstract
Emotion regulation is essential for psychological development, and mindfulness has shown promise in enhancing emotional, cognitive, and physiological outcomes. However, traditional mindfulness practices can be challenging for children. Virtual reality offers an engaging platform to improve adherence, but its impact on children remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a short virtual reality-based mindfulness programme in improving heart rate variability and emotional skills in primary school children. The study involved 127 children aged 9-12 years (Years 5 and 6). Heart rate variability, a biomarker of autonomic nervous system activity, was measured across four virtual reality mindfulness sessions, while emotional skills were assessed pre- and post-programme. Results showed significant heart rate variability improvements, with increased high frequency power and physiological coherence indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity, relaxation, and emotional regulation. Although low frequency power decreased significantly after the first session, its interpretation as a marker of sympathetic activity remains controversial, warranting cautious analysis. In addition, the intervention improved emotional skills, particularly emotional clarity and the ability to repair emotions. Younger children (Year 5) showed greater heart rate variability gains than older peers, likely due to higher emotional plasticity during this developmental stage. These findings highlight the potential of virtual reality-based mindfulness to enhance heart rate variability, supporting better physiological and emotional regulation in children. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of these interventions and their broader applicability to promote well-being and resilience in educational and therapeutic settings.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 19
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- Neural mechanisms of symptom improvements in generalized anxiety disorder following mindfulness training NeuroImage: Clinical 2013
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry. FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry January 24, 2018
- Gender differences in response to a school-based mindfulness training intervention for early adolescents. Journal of school psychology June 1, 2018
- A Mini-Review of Work Stress and Mindfulness: A Neuropsychological Point of View Frontiers in Psychology April 15, 2022
and 14 more in the library