Preliminary Efficacy of an Immersive Virtual Reality Meditation Intervention in Reducing Perceived Stress and Anxiety among University Students

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Background: While traditional meditation practices are known for their mental health benefits, they often face limitations such as restricted access and environmental distractions. To address these challenges and enhance meditation effectiveness, this study implemented an immersive virtual reality meditation (IVRM) program and examined its potential mental health benefits among university students—a population that frequently experiences significant psychological distress.

Methods: Nineteen university students participated in eight 15-min sessions of an IVRM program designed to promote mindfulness and relaxation over the course of one month. Perceived stress and anxiety levels were assessed using validated self-report measures at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2). Two-tailed paired t -tests were conducted to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the program, and effect sizes were reported using Cohen’s d .

Results: Significant reductions were observed from pre-to post-intervention in perceived stress (t(18) = 3.694, p < 0.001, SE = 0.17, d = − 0.85) and perceived anxiety (t(18) = 5.113, p < 0.01, SE = 0.10, d = − 1.20), both indicating large effect sizes.

Conclusion: Our findings provide preliminary evidence that the IVRM program can reduce stress and anxiety levels in university students. The positive results suggest that IVRM has the potential to serve as a novel, technology-based meditation intervention for individuals at elevated risk for developing mental health disorders. Furthermore, our study suggests important implications for future research.