Effects of virtual and mixed reality exergaming microbreaks on positive affect and inhibitory control in desk-based employees: A randomized crossover trial

BackgroundActivity microbreaks may help reduce the affective and cognitive burden of sedentary work, but immersive exergaming microbreaks remain underexplored.ObjectiveThis study examined the effects of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) exergaming microbreaks on positive affect, inhibitory control, and acute physiological responses in desk-based employees.MethodsIn a randomized crossover trial, 28 desk-based employees completed 5-min VR, MR, and passive-rest conditions. Positive affect (PANAS-PA) and the Victoria Stroop Color-Word interference score (C-W) were assessed before and after each session. Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously; rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and intention to continue (ITC) were also recorded. Baseline-adjusted linear mixed-effects models included condition and period as fixed effects and participant as a random intercept.ResultsBoth immersive conditions improved PANAS-PA relative to rest (VR vs. rest: 7.80, 95% CI [5.10, 10.50], p < 0.001; MR vs. rest: 6.62, 95% CI [3.91, 9.32], p < 0.001), with no clear VR-MR difference. The C-W score did not show a significant condition effect (omnibus p = 0.11) and adjusted pairwise comparisons were non-significant. HR was substantially higher during VR and MR than during rest (p < 0.001), whereas VR and MR did not significantly differ (p = 0.19). RPE was higher after VR than MR (p = 0.004), and ITC was similar across immersive conditions (p = 0.22).ConclusionsVR and MR exergaming microbreaks may support acute improvements in positive affect and physiological activation in the workplace; however, they did not improve inhibitory control in the present study.Trial registrationThis trial was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06889597).