Enhancing Mindfulness Training in Virtual Reality: A Randomized Trial of Biofeedback Integration

Virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback have emerged as promising tools for mindfulness training. However, their combined effectiveness, compared with Traditional Mindfulness formats, remains understudied. This study investigated the short-term effects of a brief mindfulness intervention delivered via VR, with and without biofeedback, on psychological and physiological outcomes. Seventy-two participants (64.7 percent women; aged 18-57 years, M = 24.0) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 24 per group): mindfulness with VR and biofeedback, mindfulness with VR only, and traditional audio-guided mindfulness. Self-report measures assessed negative emotional symptoms, state anxiety, affect, and present-moment awareness before and after the intervention. Heart rate was recorded as a psychophysiological index of arousal. Results indicated significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and heart rate and an increase in positive affect across all groups. The VR + biofeedback group showed significantly greater improvements in receptive awareness and attentional focus compared with the other conditions. These findings support the use of VR-based mindfulness and suggest that integrating biofeedback may enhance present-moment engagement.