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In the midst of a mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by a plethora of modern-day stressors, researchers at the University of Washington have delved into the realm of virtual reality (VR) to explore its potential in alleviating stress and enhancing the mental well-being of teenagers.
The study, led by Elin Björling, a senior research scientist in the university’s human-centered design and engineering department, centered around the development of a virtual world dubbed “Relaxation Environment for Stress in Teens” (RESeT). This innovative virtual space, crafted in collaboration with adolescents themselves, aimed to provide an engaging platform for stress reduction and mood enhancement.
Over a span of three weeks, 44 Seattle teens participated in the study, utilizing the VR technology designed by the research team. The virtual environment featured six activities, each grounded in evidence-based practices known to improve mental health. These activities ranged from mindfulness exercises to therapeutic techniques such as dialectical behavior therapy.
Results of the study, published in the journal JMIR XR and Spatial Computing, revealed promising outcomes. While the overall levels of anxiety and depression among participants did not decline significantly, teens reported lower stress levels and improved mood during their engagement with the VR system. Notably, the adolescents utilized the technology voluntarily, averaging two sessions per week without external prompts.
“We know what works to help support teens, but a lot of these techniques are inaccessible… So we tried to take some of these evidence-based practices, but put them in a much more engaging environment, like VR, so the teens might want to do them on their own,” explained Björling.
The development of RESeT stemmed from extensive conversations with teenagers conducted over two years, highlighting the importance of incorporating user feedback in the design process. Features such as interactive activities and personalized experiences were tailored to cater to the preferences and needs of the adolescent demographic.
“We learned some teens were really afraid of squirrels… So we removed all the squirrels… But all ages and genders loved rabbits, so we designed Rabbit Hole, where the reward for being calm and paying attention is a lot of rabbits surrounding you,” shared Björling.
Despite the promising outcomes, the study acknowledged the need for further research to assess long-term impacts and scalability. Future endeavors may involve integrating artificial intelligence to personalize the VR experience and expanding access to VR technology in educational and community settings.
With mental health concerns among adolescents reaching critical levels, innovative approaches like virtual reality offer a glimmer of hope in providing accessible and effective interventions.
The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health through the UW ALACRITY Center, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing mental health challenges facing today’s youth.
