Caregivers of children and adolescents with ADHD experience significant psychological and practical burdens. However, existing support interventions often lack experiential and flexible components. This mixed-methods study evaluated the feasibility and within-person changes associated with an immersive virtual reality (VR) intervention in addressing stress, empathy engagement patterns, and perceived quality of life among caregivers of individuals aged 5–18 with ADHD. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Three hundred and fifty caregivers participated in an eight-session VR program alternating between stress management (nature immersion) and empathy-focused (ADHD simulation and practical strategies) modules. Quantitative outcomes, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and WHOQOL-BREF, were assessed at four time points. Qualitative data were collected via interviews and focus groups. Generalized estimating equation analyses revealed significant reductions in stress; however, changes in empathy engagement were only transient and observed during the active phase, with these gains not sustained at the one-month follow-up. Minimal changes were observed in quality of life across the assessment points, indicating that the intervention’s impact was largely domain-specific rather than broadly transformative. Qualitative themes highlighted immersive escape, rapid stress relief, and increased subjective understanding, but also identified barriers related to technology, content realism, and sustainability of empathy engagement gains. Immersive VR interventions demonstrate high feasibility and offer substantial, rapid stress reduction for caregivers of youth with ADHD and moderate, short-term empathy engagement. Design improvements and ongoing exposure may be required for sustained empathy engagement and broader quality of life benefits. • VR intervention reduced stress in ADHD caregivers by 27% post-intervention. • Empathy rose during VR training but declined after the program ended. • Brief VR nature sessions offered rapid relief for time-constrained caregivers. • Qualitative findings revealed immersive escape and enhanced understanding of ADHD. • VR and peer support boosted caregiver engagement and satisfaction.
Wong et al. (Fri,) studied this question.