NMI Research Publication: Scholarly Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science- Augmented Reality Meditation

Neuromeditation Institute Research published in the Scholarly Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

More Than Just a Distraction: The Impact of Augmented Reality Meditation on Stress, Anxiety, and Mood

Authors: Resident research associate Ray Jackson, NMI director Jeff Tarrant, and assistant Kayla Fromdahl explore augmented reality meditation experience versus distraction techniques on a mobile devices, and their effects on mood, stress, and anxiety.

Abstract:

In the face of a mental health crisis in the United States, stress and anxiety management strategies that are accessible, engaging, user-friendly, and effective may be more important than ever. In this study, 37 participants between the ages of 22 and 73 from across the U.S. were randomly assigned to two different phone-based interventions: either an Augmented Reality (AR) meditationbased app intervention or a dot to dot interactive distraction technique. Participants downloaded their assigned apps to their personal smartphones and engaged in the app for 4 minutes each day for 5 consecutive days. Measurements included daily preand post- mood questionnaires as well as pre- and post- intervention questionnaires measuring perceived stress and anxiety. Both groups exhibited a decrease in anxiety over the 5 days, with those scoring higher in anxiety levels seeing stronger effects with the AR intervention. The AR group also demonstrated reductions in perceived stress while the distraction group showed increases. Significant differences occurred in mood subscales favoring AR. These findings suggest that a brief AR mobile meditation application practice can reduce aspects of negative mental health. In addition, the results obtained from the Healium AR group appear to be related to something greater than distraction. Further research is needed to examine the long-term impact of these types of applications.