Xu Qiuxia, Gu Yingqi, Hu Xizhe
Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
Department of Art · Design, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2025 Jun 4. doi: 10.1007/s10484-025-09718-w.
Recent advancements in virtual reality (VR)-enhanced mindfulness training have demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety, particularly among novice practitioners and university students. However, existing VR mindfulness interventions predominantly rely on static natural environments without incorporating interactive elements, limiting their capacity to engage users dynamically. To address this gap, this study introduces an innovative interactive VR mindfulness system, where real-time heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback dynamically modulates the virtual environment (e.g., fog dissipation, auditory cues, and visual transformations), creating a responsive and immersive experience. We investigated the effects of a single five-minute interactive VR mindfulness session on anxiety, mindfulness states, and HRV, compared to traditional audio-based mindfulness and an non-intervention control. Seventy-five university students with recent anxiety symptoms were randomized into three groups: interactive VR mindfulness (VR-MG), traditional mindfulness (MG), and control (CG). Prior to and following the five-minute intervention, anxiety, mindfulness levels, and physiological data (HRV) were measured for all three groups, with repeated measures analysis of variance performed. The results showed that the five-minute VR mindfulness interactive training significantly improved participants' anxiety levels, enhanced their mindfulness states, and effectively increased HRV, whereas traditional mindfulness and control conditions showed no significant HRV changes. Overall, this study indicates that brief VR mindfulness interactive training has significant effects on improving anxiety and mindfulness states, as well as enhancing HRV, highlighting its potential for psychological health interventions.
虚拟现实（VR）增强型正念训练的最新进展已证明其在减轻焦虑方面的功效，尤其是在新手从业者和大学生中。然而，现有的VR正念干预主要依赖静态自然环境，未纳入互动元素，限制了它们动态吸引用户的能力。为了弥补这一差距，本研究引入了一种创新的交互式VR正念系统，其中实时心率变异性（HRV）生物反馈动态调节虚拟环境（如雾气消散、听觉线索和视觉变换），创造一种响应式和沉浸式体验。我们将单次五分钟的交互式VR正念训练与传统音频正念训练和非干预对照组进行比较，研究其对焦虑、正念状态和HRV的影响。75名近期有焦虑症状的大学生被随机分为三组：交互式VR正念组（VR-MG）、传统正念组（MG）和对照组（CG）。在五分钟干预前后，对所有三组测量焦虑、正念水平和生理数据（HRV），并进行重复测量方差分析。结果表明，五分钟的VR正念交互式训练显著改善了参与者的焦虑水平，增强了他们的正念状态，并有效提高了HRV，而传统正念组和对照组的HRV没有显著变化。总体而言，本研究表明，简短的VR正念交互式训练对改善焦虑和正念状态以及提高HRV有显著效果，突出了其在心理健康干预方面的潜力。
