Mindfulness-Based Virtual Reality Intervention for Children and Young Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study.
Anava A Wren, Nicole Neiman, Thomas J Caruso, Samuel Rodriguez, Katherine Taylor, Martine Madill, Hal Rives, Linda Nguyen
Children May 5, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/children8050368 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Randomized Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 62 |
| Population | Children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (mean age 15.6 years; 69.4% Crohn's disease; 58% male) recruited from an outpatient pediatric IBD clinic |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Virtual Reality (MBVR) |
| Duration | Single 6-minute session |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Virtual reality Inflammatory bowel disease Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Key points | The authors report that a single 6-minute MBVR session was feasible and acceptable, with high enjoyment (mean 4.38/5) and relaxation (mean 4.35/5). Preliminary analyses showed improvements in anxiety and pain after the intervention. Participants expressed interest in using MBVR in medical settings and daily life. The authors suggest MBVR may improve anxiety and pain but call for a randomized controlled trial. |
Abstract
The aim of this pilot study was to assess: (1) the feasibility and acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Virtual Reality (MBVR) intervention among children and young adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and (2) the preliminary efficacy of MBVR on key psychological (anxiety) and physical (pain) outcomes. Participants were 62 children to young adults with IBD (M = 15.6 years; 69.4% Crohn's disease; 58% male) recruited from an outpatient pediatric IBD clinic. Participants completed a baseline assessment, underwent the 6-min MBVR intervention, completed a post-intervention assessment and study satisfaction survey, and provided qualitative feedback. Results suggest strong feasibility and acceptability. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with MBVR including high levels of enjoyment (M = 4.38; range 1-5) and relaxation (M = 4.35; range 1-5). Qualitative data revealed several key themes including participants interest in using MBVR in IBD medical settings (e.g., hospitalizations, IBD procedures, IBD treatments), as well as in their daily lives to support stress and symptom management. Preliminary analyses demonstrated improvements in anxiety (t = 4.79, p = 0.001) and pain (t = 3.72, p < 0.001) following MBVR. These findings provide initial support for the feasibility and acceptability of MBVR among children and young adults with IBD. Results also suggest MBVR may improve key IBD outcomes (e.g., anxiety, pain) and highlight the importance of conducting a randomized controlled trial and more rigorous research to determine intervention efficacy.
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
Cited by 5
- Virtual Reality Combined with Mind-Body Therapies for the Management of Pain: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 2024
- Virtual EMO-Mind: Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Mindfulness for Heart Rate Variability and Emotional Skills in Young Students Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback January 3, 2026
- Virtual Reality Mindfulness-Based Intervention for School Children: Does Neuroticism or Initial Mindfulness Moderate the Effects? Mindfulness December 28, 2025
- Preliminary Efficacy of an Immersive Virtual Reality Meditation Intervention in Reducing Perceived Stress and Anxiety among University Students International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025
- Living With Physical Health Conditions: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents. Journal of pediatric psychology April 1, 2023
Cites 15
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- Mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents across all settings: a scoping review protocol. Systematic Reviews December 7, 2020
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy experiences in youth with inflammatory bowel disease and depression: findings from a mixed methods qualitative study BMJ Open November 5, 2020
- Virtual Reality Meditation Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Feasibility JMIR Mental Health February 13, 2020
and 10 more in the library