“Mom, what are you painting?” Virtual reality assessment of mother–daughter dynamics through joint art-making

Introduction This study explored the use of the Virtual Reality Joint Painting Procedure (VR-JPP) to examine the relationship dynamics between mother-daughter dyads in middle childhood (ages 9 to 12). The research focused on art-based interventions conducted in the virtual reality space. Methods Interviews were conducted with 16 mothers who participated in the VR-JPP. Results The interviews yielded three main themes: dyadic communication in the virtual reality space, the advantages and disadvantages of three-dimensional painting in virtual reality, and the tripartite relationship between the therapist, mother, and daughter in the therapeutic space. The findings suggest that virtual reality fostered an innovative therapeutic space that encourages freer and more open interactions between mothers and daughters using avatars that enable unmediated emotional expression. The virtual space allowed the dyads to focus on emotional and creative communication and increased their grasp of relationship dynamics. Discussion The virtual space allowed the dyads to focus on emotional and creative communication and increased their grasp of relationship dynamics. These findings contribute to the literature on the uses of art in the virtual reality space from the perspective of mothers.