Developing VR Clinical Protocols for Integrating Virtual Reality Meditation Training in Adolescent Mental Health Settings
A. Bezabih, M. Golino, Jami Moe-Hartman, Joel J. Stoddard, C. E. Smith
CHI Extended Abstracts April 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1145/3772363.3798365 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Clinicians |
| Intervention | Meditation training VR app |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Clinicians responded positively to the VR meditation training app, indicating clinical desirability. Content analysis yielded clinical considerations for protocol development, including screening, care pathway integration, and prescription/dosage, along with design recommendations to support these protocols. |
Abstract
Adolescents are disproportionately affected by mental illness exacerbated by developmental vulnerabilities and resource gaps. Meditation offers benefits if integrated effectively into treatment plans as a therapeutic adjunct. Research indicates that meditation skills training in Virtual Reality (VR) has been beneficial for adults, and may yield similar benefits for adolescents. However, creating developmentally appropriate designs and clinical protocols for integrating VR remains a challenge. Through a mixed-methods study involving a survey (n = 35) and interviews (n = 8) with a meditation training VR app as a design probe, we gather clinical perspectives on VR acceptability and integration. Clinicians responded positively, indicating its clinical desirability. Content analysis yielded clinical considerations that inform the development of future clinical protocols for VR deployment, including screening for VR interventions, VR integration within care pathways, and VR prescription and dosage. Additionally, clinicians suggested design recommendations supporting these protocols. Based on these findings, we offer VR design considerations and protocol scaffolding to support deployment.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 18
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- Interoceptive brain network mechanisms of mindfulness-based training in healthy adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- The effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) based mindfulness training on improvement mental-health in adults: A narrative systematic review. Explore August 1, 2022
and 13 more in the library