Presentation
Evaluating VR-Based Meditation as a Tool to Manage Test Anxiety in Academic Settings
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionThis preliminary study investigates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a tool to reduce pre-exam anxiety. Traditional mindfulness-based meditation is effective in managing anxiety but requires a quiet environment and strong imagination, which can be a barrier for many students. VR offers an immersive and portable solution, capable of replicating calming environments consistently. In this within-subjects experiment, 14 graduate engineering students completed guided meditation sessions in both a VR setting and a 2D video format prior to two separate exams. Anxiety levels and presence were measured before and after each session using standardized scales, including the Test Anxiety Questionnaire, COPEAU, and SPES. While VR meditation significantly enhanced participants’ sense of spatial presence and self-location, no statistically significant differences in anxiety reduction were observed between the VR and 2D conditions. These findings suggest that while VR enhances immersion, further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm its impact on anxiety reduction. The study highlights VR’s potential as an accessible and engaging platform for anxiety management and points to future directions for developing more realistic and therapeutic virtual environments.
Event Type
Poster
TimeWednesday, October 15th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East