VRZM: Exploring the Psycho-physiological Benefits of Zen Meditation in Immersive Environments

Despite the increasing fascination with employing virtual reality (VR) for mental health treatments, the exploration of meditation within VR environments remains significantly underexplored. Additionally, a research gap remains on the impacts of VR-enabled Zen meditation on stress alleviation and physiological wellness. This study aims to address these gaps by examining the impact of VR-based Zen meditation on stress levels. The study involved 80 participants divided into four groups: first group engaging in VR-based Zen meditation (VRZM; N=20), second group engaging in virtual environment without the guided meditation audio (VR; N=20), third group engaging in audio-based Zen meditation (ZM; N=20) and a control group (Control; N=20) receiving no intervention. The psychological measures were computed via Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS 21) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The physiological measures were computed via heart rate variability (HRV) from all groups before and after the intervention and were analysed to determine the potential of VRZM as a stress management tool. The results demonstrate that the VRZM group experienced significant reductions in stress levels and increased parasympathetic activity, as measured by HRV, compared to the control group. Also, the DASS-21 and GAD-7 scores were significantly lower in VRZM compared to the control group after the intervention compared to these scores before the intervention. These findings suggest VRZM's transformative potential for improving mental and physiological well-being.