Therapeutic benefits of virtual reality (VR) mindfulness meditation for college students based on embodied cognition

Mental health issues among college students have become increasingly prominent, existing intervention methods in universities still lack sufficient situational support and sustained engagement. Mindfulness meditation, a scientifically validated psychological regulation method, is effective in improving concentration, alleviating stress, and promoting physical and mental relaxation. However, its traditional practice—relying primarily on voice guidance and internal awareness—imposes high demands on sustained attention and a stable environment. This often fails to align with the reality of college students, who frequently face distractions and complex environmental stimuli. Embodied cognition theory emphasizes that cognitive processes are rooted in bodily perception and action, providing a new theoretical perspective to overcome the limitations of traditional mindfulness in sensory dimensions and situational support. Virtual reality (VR) technology, characterized by immersion and interactivity, serves as an ideal medium for the realization of embodied mindfulness meditation. Within the framework of embodied cognition, a controlled experiment was constructed around mindfulness meditation experiences with varying levels of embodiment. Targeting college students as the research subjects, a comparative analysis was conducted between traditional mindfulness meditation and various embodied VR mindfulness interventions using both subjective and objective indicators, including emotional states, mindfulness levels, and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The results indicated that, compared to traditional mindfulness meditation and low-embodiment single-sensory interventions, VR audiovisual–EEG interactive mindfulness meditation appeared to be more effective in enhancing concentration and relaxation, boosting positive emotions, and reducing negative emotions. These findings suggested a synergistic effect between bodily perception, emotional experience, and cognitive regulation within immersive environments. Based on these empirical results, a healing design system for VR mindfulness meditation was constructed from the perspective of embodied cognition, followed by the development of a system prototype. Finally, the interaction experience and application effectiveness of the system were verified through usability testing. This research formed a complete closed loop consisting of “theoretical model construction – experimental verification – system architecture – system design – usability evaluation.” The outcomes provide an actionable methodological path for VR psychological healing design and offer both healing and practical references for optimizing mental health intervention models for college students.