Supporting mindfulness based interventions with social virtual reality

Abstract

In this work in progress report, we outline the rationale, theoretical framework, and experimental design for a study focused on leveraging virtual reality to make mindfulness-based interventions more accessible to critical populations. Mindfulness-based interventions can help individuals manage stress and mitigate professional burnout but are often difficult to access due to time constraints and other limitations. We discuss some of the advantages of using virtual and mixed reality systems to reduce logistical burdens associated with practice as well as important factors to consider when designing a system for clinical interventions.