Evaluating VR-Based Meditation as a Tool to Manage Test Anxiety in Academic Settings
Abigail Mcdowell, A. Khasawneh, Frank Neeley, Halley Smith
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1177/10711813251358803 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Graduate engineering students during exam periods |
| Intervention | 2D guided meditation |
| Measures | Test Anxiety Scale, Coping with Pre-Exam Anxiety and Uncertainty (COPEAU), Spatial Presence Experience Scale (SPES) |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | No statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores was observed between VR and 2D guided meditation conditions. Participants reported a significantly greater sense of presence in the VR environment. The authors suggest VR may enhance immersion during meditation but that a larger sample is needed to determine its impact on anxiety reduction. |
Abstract
This study explores the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) meditation environment in reducing exam-related anxiety among graduate engineering students. Traditional meditation can be limited by environmental constraints, while VR offers an immersive alternative. Participants (N = 14) were exposed to both VR and 2D guided meditation experiences in a within-subjects design across two exam periods. Measures included (a) the Test Anxiety Scale, (b) the Pre-Exam Anxiety Scale: using the Coping with Pre-Exam Anxiety and Uncertainty (COPEAU), and (c) the Presence Scale: using the Spatial Presence Experience Scale (SPES). While no statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores was observed between the two groups, participants reported a significantly greater sense of presence within the VR environment. Results suggest VR may enhance immersion during meditation but require a larger sample size to determine its impact on anxiety reduction.