Mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be beneficial in increasing positive effects and reducing various negative symptoms (e.g., stress, burnout, depression, rumination) in diverse clinical and non-clinical populations from different cultures and backgrounds. In its essence, mindfulness intends to promote self-regulation of attention and non-judgmental awareness in the present moment, improving flexibility, emotional acceptance and tolerance, as well as more adaptive behaviors. Mindful-based therapies assume diverse forms, according to the population’s characteristics, aims or theoretical/applied perspectives.
During the last decades, various therapeutic approaches surfaced, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Self-compassion is a different, but complementary, construct to mindfulness. Self-compassion interventions are focused mostly on the importance of being kind to others and oneself during difficult times and emotionally activating experiences. Although most mindful-based interventions teach how to pay attention to the present moment, not necessarily in negative experiences, they implicitly promote self-compassion skills. The limits between mindfulness and self-compassion seemed difficult to establish, which is evidenced in recent studies demonstrating that self-compassion is a key mediator in general mindful-based interventions and their positive outcomes.
Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been used widely as a tool in therapy. Through computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment, VR allows inducing certain emotional states in an engaging, predictable, immersive and safe environment.
Many studies have shown the benefits of VRET (Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment) to treat a diverse number of fears, phobias, and other negative symptoms and conditions (e.g. fear of flying, fear of heights social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder, short-term pain distraction). More recently, these technologies have shown relevant benefits to the promotion of self-compassion, relaxation, and mindfulness. These technological tools might be particularly appealing to young people that are already familiarized with internet digital devices, and helpful to people who usually complain about distraction while focusing their attention on their breathing or other mindfulness exercises. These interventions might also be applied
with additional neurofeedback devices in laboratory settings, which allows assessing emotional states and other autonomic responses. Besides 3D simulations, 2D web-based interventions also represent a promising field to promote mindfulness and self-compassion (e.g., applications). However, this emerging topic needs urgent acceleration and rigorous scientific contributions.
As such, this topic aims at presenting new research that aims to explore how virtual environments and web-based technologies might contribute to improving mindfulness and self-compassion-based interventions. The editors encourage the submission of papers on this topic including (but not limited to) randomized controlled trials, A-B longitudinal
designs, meta-analyses, or systematic reviews. Studies on all psychological, emotional, and physical outcomes, on all types of populations, from all cultural and social backgrounds, and across the lifespan are welcome.
Mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be beneficial in increasing positive effects and reducing various negative symptoms (e.g., stress, burnout, depression, rumination) in diverse clinical and non-clinical populations from different cultures and backgrounds. In its essence, mindfulness intends to promote self-regulation of attention and non-judgmental awareness in the present moment, improving flexibility, emotional acceptance and tolerance, as well as more adaptive behaviors. Mindful-based therapies assume diverse forms, according to the population’s characteristics, aims or theoretical/applied perspectives.
During the last decades, various therapeutic approaches surfaced, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Self-compassion is a different, but complementary, construct to mindfulness. Self-compassion interventions are focused mostly on the importance of being kind to others and oneself during difficult times and emotionally activating experiences. Although most mindful-based interventions teach how to pay attention to the present moment, not necessarily in negative experiences, they implicitly promote self-compassion skills. The limits between mindfulness and self-compassion seemed difficult to establish, which is evidenced in recent studies demonstrating that self-compassion is a key mediator in general mindful-based interventions and their positive outcomes.
Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been used widely as a tool in therapy. Through computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment, VR allows inducing certain emotional states in an engaging, predictable, immersive and safe environment.
Many studies have shown the benefits of VRET (Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment) to treat a diverse number of fears, phobias, and other negative symptoms and conditions (e.g. fear of flying, fear of heights social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder, short-term pain distraction). More recently, these technologies have shown relevant benefits to the promotion of self-compassion, relaxation, and mindfulness. These technological tools might be particularly appealing to young people that are already familiarized with internet digital devices, and helpful to people who usually complain about distraction while focusing their attention on their breathing or other mindfulness exercises. These interventions might also be applied
with additional neurofeedback devices in laboratory settings, which allows assessing emotional states and other autonomic responses. Besides 3D simulations, 2D web-based interventions also represent a promising field to promote mindfulness and self-compassion (e.g., applications). However, this emerging topic needs urgent acceleration and rigorous scientific contributions.
As such, this topic aims at presenting new research that aims to explore how virtual environments and web-based technologies might contribute to improving mindfulness and self-compassion-based interventions. The editors encourage the submission of papers on this topic including (but not limited to) randomized controlled trials, A-B longitudinal
designs, meta-analyses, or systematic reviews. Studies on all psychological, emotional, and physical outcomes, on all types of populations, from all cultural and social backgrounds, and across the lifespan are welcome.
