Effect of a Mindfulness intervention with virtual reality in adolescents on Attention and working memory

Abstract

Introduction: Mindfulness has proven to be a very valuable practice to improve people's attentional and working memory capacities. These abilities evolve over time, but if they are properly trained, they can reach greater potential, especially if this training is done during childhood and adolescence. Adolescents do not always feel motivated to practice mindfulness, so the aim of this work consists in proposing a mindfulness intervention through the use of a virtual reality headset that allows access to mindfulness training in a way that is more attractive to them.

Method. An experimental design was used to evaluate the effect of a Mindfulness intervention with virtual reality (MIVR) using the app TRIPP, in a sample of 47 adolescents (G₁n= 25, G₂n= 22; mean age = 15.53; SD = .99; 57.44% female) trough The RehaCom Screening Test on Divided Attention (DA) and Working Memory (WM), before (T₁ = pretest), and 21 days after its implementation (T₂ = posttest).

Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups between measurements (T ₂ T₁), in terms of divided attention and working memory (p <0.001), but not between woman and man, suggesting a significant improvement in 21 days of the MIVR.

Discussion. This research corroborates and contributes to a better understanding of the direct effects on Virtual Reality-Mindfulness interaction, also verifying that adherence to monitoring the process gives evidence of the motivation acquired by adolescents.