Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Stress in Adolescents: Mixed Methods Usability Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adolescent mental health is a national mental health emergency amid surging rates of anxiety and depression. Given the scarcity and lack of scalable mental health services, the use of self-administered, evidence-based technologies to support adolescent mental health is both timely and imperative.

Objective

The goal of this study was 2-fold: (1) to determine the feasibility, usability, and engagement of a participatory designed, nature-based virtual reality (VR) environment and (2) to determine the preliminary outcomes of our self-administered VR environment on depression, mindfulness, perceived stress, and momentary stress and mood.

Methods

We conducted a within-person, 3-week, in-home study with a community-based sample of 44 adolescents. Participants comp

SUBMITTER: Bjorling EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671315 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature