Enhancing Social Functioning using Multi-user, Immersive Virtual Reality

Abstract Background Rates of loneliness and other forms of social disconnection have been increasing worldwide over the past decade. Prior studies have suggested that brief behavioral interventions can impact this problem but, currently, access to such interventions is very limited. One previously untested approach for addressing this gap is immersive, multi-user virtual reality (VR). Methods To measure the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of this approach, 33 young adults experiencing social discomfort were enrolled in a study of an immersive, multi-user VR behavioral intervention called Reconnecting with Ourselves and Others in virtual Meetings (ROOM), which was adapted from a previously validated, mindfulness-based intervention. Quantitative measures of aspects of social functioning, including social comfort, interpersonal distance and facial affect recognition, were collected before and after participants completed ROOM. Results All of the participants attended more than half of the sessions and 90.3% found ROOM to be beneficial and useful. In addition, comfort with others in the real world (p = .02) and facial affect recognition accuracy (p = .02) significantly increased, while interpersonal distances remained unchanged, following ROOM. Conclusions An immersive, multi-user VR, mindfulness-based intervention may represent one feasible, scalable approach for disseminating skills that can improve social functioning and connection. Clinicaltrial.org # NCT06360562