Dr Stefan Piantella (Research Project Coordinator)

Mr Michael Mclaughlin (Bachelor of Psychology Honours candidate)

Associate Professor Xochitl de la Piedad Garcia

Dr Madeleine Fraser (Senior Lecturer)

Professor  John Gleeson (Head of Healthy Brain & Research Centre)

Mindfulness is increasingly being recognised for its ability to improve psychological well-being in our technology-infused world. Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment while observing your thoughts and emotions without judgement (Anālayo, 2019). Achieving a state of mindfulness is commonly done through meditation practices, breathing exercises, and often guided by a teacher(Baer & Krietemeyer, 2006). Advances in technology have the capacity to enhance engagement and help with understanding mindfulness practices for daily life. One emerging modality showingpromise is virtual reality (VR), a technology that can stimulate multiple senses through computer-generated environments (Penn & Hout, 2018). Our study aimed to explore the effectiveness and usability of VR as a modality for conducting mindfulness meditation. We used a 10-minute body scan exercise in the AtOneTM app. Forty-six participants (from general community and university students in Melbourne and Sydney) engaged in a 10-minute mindfulness meditation inside a VR nature-based

environment. Outcomes were assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), heart rate variability (HRV), and the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results from the 10-minute VR mindfulness meditation resulted in a significant

improvement in level of mindfulness represented by improved total FFMQ scores. A significant improvement was observed in the non-reactivity facet of the FFMQ suggesting a greater capacity to remain calm and centred. Results also showed a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms after the mindfulness meditation session. In contrast, HRV values in this sample declined, which may reflect higher stress levels. Participants reported above average usability, suggesting the VR device was safe and easy to use. In conclusion, the study’s findings support VR as an effective modality for mindfulness meditation with significant decreases in symptoms of poor mental health and increases in mindfulness, which is also user-friendly. The HRV outcome requires further investigation to be better understood. These preliminary results have provided support for further testing in a larger and more diverse sample of people.

Financial disclosure: This work was supported by AtOne (Grant Project Code 2022000817). AtOne were not involved in the design or conduct of the study, or in the analysis or interpretation of results.