Study synthesizing 35 recent clinical trials published in JMIR XR and Spatial Computing.

Santa Barbara, CA — A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in JMIR XR and Spatial Computing finds that virtual reality (VR)–based mindfulness interventions produce reliable short-term benefits for emotional regulation and state mindfulness—with implications for mental health support across clinical, educational, and workplace settings.

The study, conducted by Sarah A Barker of Fielding Graduate University, synthesized findings from 35 empirical studies published between 2023 and 2025, making it one of the most comprehensive quantitative reviews of VR-based mindfulness research to date.

What the Research Found

Across the 35 included studies—representing approximately 1550 participants from diverse populations including university students, health care professionals, and clinical groups—VR mindfulness interventions consistently improved emotional and attentional outcomes in the short term.

Most notably, participants who completed VR mindfulness sessions showed a statistically significant medium-sized reduction in negative affect—feelings of distress, anxiety, and low mood—and a large, statistically significant increase in state mindfulness, meaning their capacity for present-moment awareness improved meaningfully after intervention.

Effects on depression, stress, and anxiety were consistently positive but did not reach statistical significance, likely due to the small number of studies available per outcome and substantial variation in how interventions were designed and delivered.

Why It Matters

“VR-based mindfulness is no longer a novelty—it’s an emerging evidence base,” said Barker. “What this review shows is that these interventions can reliably support emotional regulation in the short term, across a wide range of populations and settings. That’s meaningful for anyone thinking about scalable mental health tools.”

The study also highlights significant gaps in the current evidence base. Many included studies relied on small samples, brief follow-up periods, and inconsistent outcome reporting—particularly for physiological measures such as heart rate variability and electroencephalogram (EEG) results. The author calls for larger randomized trials, standardized outcome measurements, and greater transparency in reporting to strengthen the field.

About the Research

This paper is the second of three publications derived from Barker’s doctoral dissertation at Fielding Graduate University. The review followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines and used random-effects meta-analytic models to compute pooled effect sizes across six psychological outcome domains: anxiety, depression, stress, negative affect, positive affect, and mindfulness.

The full paper is available at xr.jmir.org. Open science materials including data, effect size calculations, and screening documentation are available in the project’s Open Science Framework (OSF) repository.

About the Author

Sarah A Barker is an independent researcher and recent doctoral graduate of Fielding Graduate University. Her work sits at the intersection of media psychology, virtual reality, and contemplative practice, examining immersive technology and mindfulness at empirical, methodological, and philosophical levels. She is also the creator and host of VR: A Path to Mental Wellness, an award-winning six-episode documentary podcast series—official selection at The NewsFest and the New Zealand Web Fest 2024—exploring the use of virtual reality in mental health, trauma, pain management, and clinical practice. She is currently seeking research and academic opportunities.

Contact support@jmir.org — manuscript ID 90003

Original article:

Barker SA, Miles-Novelo AJ, Rizzo A, Tuma RM. Efficacy of Virtual Reality–Based Mindfulness Interventions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR XR Spatial Comput. 2026;3:e90003

URL: https://xr.jmir.org/2026/1/e90003

doi: 10.2196/90003