Effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality intervention to reduce anxiety during pregnancy: a quasiexperimental single-group pre-post study

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-related anxiety affects a significant number of women and has adverse consequences for both mothers and children. Virtual reality has emerged as an innovative strategy in the field of mental health to address anxiety disorders. However, in the field of obstetric healthcare, it has mostly been used as a distraction tool. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality intervention in reducing pregnancy-related anxiety during the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: A single-group pre-post quasiexperimental study was conducted with 73 pregnant women who participated in a prenatal education program at a health center in Madrid. The intervention consisted of an interactive and immersive simulation with virtual reality, which was carried out during the last trimester of pregnancy. Anxiety was measured before and after the intervention via the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-20). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests, including logistic regression. Results: The median age of the participants was 34 years. Most were university educated and had no previous children. The results revealed a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the pregnancy-related anxiety score following the intervention. According to the logistic regression model, the intervention significantly increased the probability of reducing anxiety (p < 0.047), adjusting for other variables. Conclusions: Compared with other interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in decreasing pregnancy-related anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and others, immersive VR intervention offers the advantage of being a brief and unique intervention. In conclusion, it could be an effective tool for reducing pregnancy-related anxiety.