Changes In Negative Emotions Research Articles

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Preventive External Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gel Combined with Psychological Care in Tumor Patients with Radiation Dermatitis

Radiation dermatitis (RD) caused by radiation therapy has brought pain to patients. Therefore, we aim to investigate the efficacy of preventive external application of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) gel in conjunction with psychological care for the prevention of RD in patients with malignant tumors. A total of 130 patients who underwent radiotherapy in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the research objects. The patients were divided into two groups based on their nursing modes: the conventional group received TCM gel treatment for Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade II skin damage, while the combination group received preventive external application of TCM gel before radiotherapy along with psychological care support. The incidence of RD, quality of life, negative emotional changes, and satisfaction with nursing care were recorded and compared between the two groups. Our results demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of RTOG grade III–IV skin damage, an obvious improvement in patient’s quality of life and negative emotions, and a higher satisfaction in the combination group compared to the conventional group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that the preventive external application of traditional Chinese medicine combined with psychological care during radiotherapy holds significant potential in preventing RD in patients with malignant tumors. Furthermore, it is proposed that the observed efficacy of the Chinese medicine gel in preventing radiation dermatitis may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties, primarily mediated by key active ingredients such as berberine and obacunone.

Emotional Regulation of Displaced Aggression in Provocative Situations among Junior High School Students.

This study investigated the emotion regulation effect of displaced aggression among junior high school students after provocation through two experiments. Experiment 1 examined the effect of displaced aggression on the negative and positive emotions of junior high school students after low- and high-level provocation. The results showed that only after high-level provocation did individuals experience a significant decrease in negative emotions and a significant increase in positive emotions after engaging in displaced aggression. Experiment 2 explored the effect of aggressive intensity on negative and positive emotions after provocation. The results indicated that, in terms of changes in positive emotions, low-intensity aggression showed a significant increase in positive emotions after aggression. Regarding changes in negative emotions, both low-intensity aggression and high-intensity aggression resulted in significant decreases in negative emotions after aggression. In conclusion, this research showed that, in highly provocative situations, displaced aggression among junior school students, especially low-intensity displaced aggression, could increase positive emotions and decrease negative emotions. These results support the emotional regulation theory of aggression. However, considering that displaced aggression violates social norms, efforts should be made to avoid individuals regulating their emotions through displaced aggression, instead guiding them toward using more appropriate methods for emotional regulation in future research and practical applications.

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Strengths Intervention on Adolescent Mental Health are Mediated by Changes in Negative Emotions

Previous studies in adult samples have shown that emotions, especially positive emotions, are one of the key mechanisms of change in positive psychology interventions. The current research aimed to investigate whether these emotions also mediate the effect of a positive psychology intervention, based on mindfulness and strengths use for adolescents, on mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being, peer-related and attentional problems). A quasi-experimental study was performed, including assessments one week before and one week after the intervention. The results of the multilevel mediation analyses showed that adolescents who completed the intervention (N=70) experienced a significant decrease in negative emotions but no significant increase in positive emotions compared to adolescents who did not participate in the intervention (N=236). Changes in negative emotions mediated changes in mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being and peer-related problems) associated with the intervention. Further, adolescents who started, but not necessarily completed the intervention (N=116) experienced no significant decrease in negative emotions. Findings suggest that positive psychology interventions may have an effect on health outcomes by decreasing negative emotions in addition to fostering positive emotions.

An Exploration of the Physiological and Psychological Aspects of Student Anxiety Using a Greenspace Restorative Environment Based on Virtual Reality: A Controlled Experiment in Nanjing College

Psychological anxiety among college students has attracted research interest. Previous studies have shown that greenspaces play a positive role in the recovery of student health. However, limited studies have explored the benefits of restorative environmental greenspace components. Therefore, this study used virtual reality to conduct control variable experiments. Considering the terrain scene, pavement material, and green vision rate as research elements, we monitored the skin conductance level and heart rate variability of 36 college students, as well as the positive and negative affect schedule and perceptual recovery scales, and we found that terrain elements have a significant impact on perceptual recovery, while pavement material has a significant impact on physiological recovery. Significant differences in perceptual recovery scores and changes in negative emotions among the different green vision levels were also observed. According to the regression relationship, the scene’s attractiveness rating was the highest when the scene’s green vision rate was 50%, while at 48%, the positive emotional improvement was the highest, and at 40%, the negative emotional improvement was the greatest.

Clinical observation of perioperative negative emotional changes in patients with percutaneous balloon compression for primary trigeminal neuralgia: A prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of negative emotions in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) patients, to identify risk factors associated with anxiety and depression, and further to explore the impact of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) on anxiety and depression in TN patients during the perioperative period. Methods400 patients with primary TN treated with PBC at our institution from November 2021 to April 2023 were included. We analyzed visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. The patients’ clinical data and short-term clinical outcomes were gathered and subjected to statistical analysis. ResultsThis study included a total of 400 patients diagnosed with primary TN. Patients who had high pain intensity (OR 1.20, 95 % CI 1.02–1.41; p = 0.025) or a history of multiple previous TN procedures (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.03–2.16; p = 0.036), were more prone to anxiety. Patients who were female (OR 1.59, 95 % CI 1.03–2.44; p = 0.036), had high pain intensity (OR 1.28, 95 % CI 1.08–1.52; p = 0.004) or had a history of multiple previous TN procedures (OR 1.48, 95 % CI 1.11–1.98; p = 0.008), were more likely to have depression. Significant improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms were observed in patients who experienced pain relief after PBC (p < 0.001). ConclusionsFemale gender, high pain intensity, and a history of multiple prior TN procedures are associated risk factors for anxiety and depression in TN patients. PBC can provide patients with a high pain relief rate and significantly improve their anxiety and depression symptoms during the perioperative period.

Positive and negative emotional changes in newly recruited nurses within one year: A Longitudinal Study

Aims and objectives: To explore changes in positive and negative emotions among newly recruited nurses within one year of their employment. Background: New nurses often suffer great emotional shock during the period of adaptation. However, few studies have examined the positive and negative emotions of newly employed nursing staff (new graduated nurses and nurses had previous working experience) in the first year of their employment. Design: This study was a cross-sectional and partly prospective. Methods: This study examined a series of different emotions among newly employed nurses when they joined the hospital and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from a tertiary hospital in China. A self-designed questionnaire was used to measure their emotional changes. Results: The emotional changes of nurses (N=172) within one year of employment have stages. The proportion of nurses with positive emotions decreased within 3 months of employment, increased after 3 months of employment, and gradually stabilized after 6 months of employment (p&gt; 0.05).As a whole, the negative emotions of new nurses gradually eased with the extension of employment time, and the proportion of nurses with mild negative emotions increased within 3 months of employment, while the proportion of nurses with negative emotions decreased significantly within 3-6 months of employment (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: There is a significant stage difference in the positive and negative emotional responses of newly hired nurses. Relevance to clinical practice: Our study indicates that during the 3-6 months of their employment is the best time to intervene the emotional changes of newly recruited nurses. Nurse managers and head nurses must work together to support newly employed nurses in individualized emotional management, doing so to improve the nursing staff retention rate and reduce levels of negative emotions.

The concept of "way" as a characteristic of the image of the hero in the novel by A. A. Fadeev "The Rout"

The subject of the study is the representation of the concept of the "way" in the novel by A. A. Fadeev "The Rout". The purpose of the work is to describe the representations of the concept of "way" as a real space in the novel and as a metaphor for the changes of its characters. The space category reflects the topographical features of the Far East, helping to trace the path of the detachment in the coordinates of space through the point of view of the protagonist. The spatial frame of the narrative is built with the help of specific subject words and toponyms, which mainly represent the remote countryside and the physical geography of the Far East. The attributes that form the natural space in the novel correspond to the negative emotional changes of the characters, revealing the inherent cruelty of the Civil War. When expressing this type of spatial relationship, it is the verb that plays the dominant role, which is based on the separation according to the static/dynamic manifestation of locative semantics, at the same time, verbs of displacement significantly surpass verbs of position. The following methods were used in the course of the study: the method of linguistic description, the method of contextual analysis, and the method of semantic analysis. The text space, as an important part of the content of the novel, depicts fragments of reality, and through the spatial concept of the "way" builds a general spatial picture of the world. The concept of "way" in a metaphorical sense is a subconcept of the concept of "Civil War", in accordance with this, the results of this work enrich the figurative zone of the concept of "Civil War". An analytical algorithm for the study of text space can be applied to the spatial analysis of similar works of art. The result of the study was the conclusion that the "way" is one of the central concepts of the novel. The concept of "way" has a negative connotation, suffering occurs in the process of the detachment's retreat. In addition, A. Fadeev includes spiritual trials in the path of the revolutionary hero, the character completes internal changes in the affirmation of socialist values in external crises and complex character relationships.

Effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled study.

To explore the effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 130 patients with PCOS admitted to our hospital from April 2021 to March 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were evenly divided according to a random number table method. The control group received routine care for the patients, while the study group received comprehensive care for the patients. The IVF, pregnancy outcomes, negative emotional changes, serum and follicular fluid (FF) amyloid-related protein and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the 2 groups of patients were compared. The data on IVF rate and pregnancy rate in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group (P < .05). The SAS and SDS scores of the study group patients after intervention were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < .05). After intervention, the levels of serum and FF amyloid associated protein and CRP in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < .05). Patients with PCOS who receive comprehensive care can increase their probability of IVF, improve their pregnancy outcomes, and have a positive significance in reducing negative emotions.

LITERATURE REVIEW: TERAPI KOMPLEMENTER TERHADAP KESEHATAN MENTAL IBU NIFAS

Postpartum mothers can experience positive and negative emotional changes. Mother's positive emotions include joy, happiness, satisfaction while negative emotions include anxiety, frustration, confusion, sadness and guilt in undergoing role changes. Therapy is needed to shape the mother's coping skills in dealing with emotional changes during the puerperium, one of which is complementary therapy. The aim of the study was to analyze various scientific literacy related to complementary therapies given with the aim of maintaining the health of postpartum mothers. This research method is a literature review. Data is accessed from various database sources; Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Sage Pud, ProQuest in the period 2013 to 2023. The main topic search keywords are; complementary therapy, mental health and postpartum period. The results of this study concluded that complementary therapies in the form of intervention music, laughter therapy, yoga, therapeutic touch, acupressure, reflexology, massage, aromatherapy and herbal therapy statistically can improve women's mental health in the postpartum period. In the future, interventions with complementary therapies can be used on a larger research sample scale.

Psychological intervention as a metod of reducing negative emotions in adolescents

The present article describes the result of a formative research which were orientate on reducing negative emotions at adolescents. In formative research were included 24 adolescents (12 experimental group and control group). On adolescents from experimental group were administrated a program of psychological intervention which contains techniques from cognitive-compartmental psychotherapy. As results were established changes in negative emotions, their psychological corelates and personality trait at adolescent from experimental group.

Analysis of the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and anxiety and depression based on the theory of "Yi(liver) and Gui(kidney) from same source"

For a long time, the influence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction on anxiety and depression has been ignored, and the focus of research is on the influence of obvious thyroid dysfunction on mood. In recent years, the research on the effect of subclinical hypothyroidism on anxiety and depression has gradually increased, and the effect of subclinical hypothyroidism on mood has been re-emphasized. At present, the main measures for clinical diagnosis and treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in China are clinical observation rather than drug intervention. In fact, patients do have negative emotional changes, which seriously affect people's sleep, study and work. Therefore, in this context, the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine are highlighted again. This paper aims to explore the essence of the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and anxiety and depression based on the theory of "Yigui homology", so as to provide clinical diagnosis and treatment ideas.

QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER ACCORDING TO MOTHERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Hastanede yatan iki-yedi yaş arasındaki kanserli çocukların yaşam kalitelerinin anne görüşlerine göre incelenmesini amaçlayan araştırma, nitel boyutta olgubilim (fenomenoloji) desendedir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, Ankara’da bulunan iki üniversite hastanesinin onkoloji servisinde yatan, kanser tanısını en az altı ay önce almış, majör fizik ve motor gelişim bozukluğu olmayan 10 çocuğun annesinden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri “Genel Bilgi Formu” ve “Anne Görüşme Formu” ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi ve betimsel analiz yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. Annelerin çoğunluğu kanser hastası olan çocuklarının; fiziksel sorunlar yaşadığını, tanı ve tedavi sürecinde olumsuz duygu değişimleri yaşadığını belirtmiştir. Anneler, çocuklarının sosyal, duygusal, dil ve kaba motor gelişimlerinin olumsuz etkilendiğini, fiziksel sorunlarının olduğunu, iletişim sorunları yaşadıklarını, oyun yaşantılarının değiştiğini ve yaşam kalitelerinin hastalıktan etkilendiğini belirtmişlerdir. Ayrıca, çocuklarının tanı ve tedavi sürecinde çocuk gelişimci ile karşılaştıklarını, hizmet aldıklarını ve aldıkları çocuk gelişimi hizmetlerinden memnun olduklarını ifade etmişlerdir. Ortaya çıkan temalar doğrultusunda, kanserli çocukların yaşamış olduğu fiziksel sorunlar, duygu değişimleri, gelişimleri, fiziksel sorunları, iletişim sorunları, oyun yaşantıları, yaşam kaliteleri ve çocuk gelişimcilerle karşılaşma durumları ile ilgili sonuçlara ulaşılmıştır.

Developing and Testing a Model of Dynamic Changes in Work-School Conflict and Workplace Deviance Over Time.

Work–school conflict is a major stressor for many college students who have paid jobs while in college. Although work–school conflict experience is dynamic, the extant research has predominantly cast it and its consequences as between-person phenomena from a static perspective, ignoring its inherent temporal nature. As a result, little is known about the intra-individual changes in work–school conflict and their associated consequences as implied by the related theory. Drawing on the stressor–emotion model of counterproductive work behavior, we conducted a longitudinal weekly diary study to examine how work–school conflict change can predict changes in negative emotions and workplace deviance (i.e., the change-to-change effects). We also tested core self-evaluation, time management skill, and financial well-being as moderators of the proposed mediated relationship. Results from latent change score modeling showed that upward work–school conflict change had a positive relationship with upward workplace deviance change via upward changes in negative emotions. Further, time management skill and financial well-being weakened the indirect relationships between upward work–school conflict change and upward workplace deviance change. However, the moderating nature of core self-evaluation on the indirect relationship contrasted with our hypothesis. Implications for theory and future research are discussed along with implications for organizations and college institutions.

Prevalence, emotional and follow-up burden of insulin injection-related needle-stick injuries among clinical nurses in Shaanxi Province, west of China: A cross-sectional study.

Aims and objectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, emotional and follow‐up burden of insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries among clinical nurses.Backgroundneedle‐stick injures introduce statistically significant occupational hazards to healthcare workers. Although the large proportion of the needles injuries attributed to insulin injection, research evidence about the prevalence, emotional and follow‐up burden of such injures is lacking.DesignCross‐sectional study.Methods5389 nurses were recruited from 45 hospitals in Shaanxi, China, from November 2018 to July 2019. Participants were administrated with a questionnaire specifically developed for this study. Descriptive statistics were used to present the findings.ResultsAll 5,389 nurses responded to the survey, of which 396 (7.4%) participants experienced 620 insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries in the past year, representing an annual prevalence of 115.0 per 1000 nurses. The annual prevalence of infection caused by the injuries was 18.7 per 1000 nurses. The injuries occurred most frequently when nurses were recapping the needle (42.4%). In the majority (98.4%) of the injuries, the hurt nurses took proper immediate actions. However, only 30.3% of nurses reported the injuries to the administrative staff, and in 43.2% of the injuries, the nurses refused or discontinued the suggested follow‐up. A large proportion (58.6%) of the hurt nurses experienced emotional changes. Multivariate logistic regression showed that department, removing and/or setting back needle caps with bare hands, frequency of insulin pen and syringes are associated with the incidence of insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries. This paper is reported following the STROBE recommendations.ConclusionsThis survey demonstrated a considerably high prevalence of insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries among clinical nurses. Even though the majority of the hurt nurses took proper immediate actions, a large quantity of them failed to report the accidents to the administrative staff and complete the suggested follow‐up. Nurses who suffered from insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries were subject to various negative emotional changes. It portends a statistically significant risk to occupational health management for nurses.Relevance to clinical practiceScientific preventive and management strategies are desirable in order to minimize the consequences of insulin injection‐related needle‐stick injuries.

Depression and stress in Korean parents: A cohort study

AimThis study identified the level of depression and stress in couples experiencing pregnancy and childbirth. BackgroundMarried couples who experience pregnancy and delivery, deal with psychological changes during the parenthood transition. If they do not adapt well, they experience negative emotions that negatively affect them and their child. Therefore, the incidence and changing patterns of depression among couples need to be explored. MethodsUsing a prospective cohort study design, the researchers collected the couples' depression and stress levels 6 times. This study included 219 prenatal pregnant women, 181 spouses during pregnancy in the prenatal period, 178 postpartum mothers, and 125 spouses after childbirth. The levels of depression and stress were investigated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. ResultsThe incidence rate of prenatal depression was 10.5– 21.5% in pregnant women and 10.5–12.7% in their spouses. After childbirth, the incidence rate of depression was 21.3– 32.0% in postpartum women and 6.4–10.4% in their spouses. The levels of depression and stress varied from the prenatal to the postpartum period, showing different patterns between women and their spouses. Significantly, the emotional patterns in the couples were different as far as parity was concerned. ConclusionsThe levels of depression and stress in couples continuously changed during the prenatal and postpartum periods and the patterns differed as well. Even couples who experience a healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience negative emotional changes. Therefore, timely nursing management will alleviate stress and depression not first-time by first-time parents.

Acute Impact of the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak on Behavioral Patterns and Emotional States of Pediatric Psychiatric Patients and Caregivers in Daegu, South Korea.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the changes in interpersonal relationships, behavioral patterns, and emotional states of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders and their caregivers immediately after the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Daegu, South Korea. MethodsA total of 147 patients and 147 caregivers participated in the Survey for Outing and Time Usage for Child, Adolescent, and Parents and the COVID-19 Visual Analog Scale for Emotion. We classified the patients and their caregivers into the internalizing disorder (ID) and externalizing disorder (ED) groups and compared the changes. ResultsParent–child relationships for adolescent patients and caregivers were interrupted, and friend relationships in all participants were disrupted, while sibling relationships improved in adolescent patients. They experienced negative emotional changes. Time spent outdoor decreased and digital screen time increased for all participants. Friend and parent–child relationships were interrupted in the ED group compared to those in the ID group. ED patients experienced negative changes in emotional states, while ID patients showed no significant changes. ConclusionResults are meaningful as a reference for predicting changes in interpersonal relationships and mental status of pediatric psychiatric patients and for determining healthcare system adaptations to allow mental health support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Affective empathy and prosocial behavior in rodents.

Empathy is an essential function for humans as social animals. Emotional contagion, the basic form of afffective empathy, comprises the cognitive process of perceiving and sharing the affective state of others. The observational fear assay, an animal model of emotional contagion, has enabled researchers to undertake molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanism of this behavior. Such studies have revealed that observational fear is mediated through neural circuits involved in processing the affective dimension of direct pain experiences. A mouse can also respond to milder social stimuli induced by either positive or negative emotional changes in another mouse, whichseems not dependent on the affective pain circuits. Further studies should explore how different neural circuits contribute to integrating different dimensions of affective empathy.

Pupil Constrictions and Their Associations With Increased Negative Affect During Responses to Recalled Memories of Interpersonal Stress

Abstract. Pupil diameter change is indicative of emotional processing. Most previous findings regarding pupillary response and emotion have reported that the pupil enlarges in response to the presentation of emotional perceptual stimuli (e.g., visual images) within several seconds. It is considered that such stimuli activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to pupil dilation. In order to examine the effects of emotions similar to daily emotional experiences of mood, the present study examined pupil diameter changes and their relationships with subjective emotional changes while recalling a topic of stressful interpersonal events in daily life. The data of 20 university students (11 males, Mage = 20.36 ± 2.38 years; 9 females, Mage = 22.33 ± 3.57) were analyzed. In the experimental task, participants were instructed to recall their memories concerning the topic through instructions and questions presented on a monitor, which proceeded at their own pace, through a key press. Subsequently, after baseline and instruction periods, participants were instructed to freely recall their memories. They were then asked to respond silently to a series of questions concerning the freely recalled memories. In the analysis, we compared the pupil diameters between these different periods and observed that pupil diameters significantly decreased during the response period relative to the free recall or baseline periods. Furthermore, pupil constrictions during the response period were negatively correlated with increases in negative affect scale scores. Pupil constriction, which is indicative of decreased arousal level and parasympathetic activation, was presumably caused by multiple factors including less cognitive difficulty and a relatively long experimental task period. As the result of a less tonic mode in the response period, the attention of participants might be more successfully focused on ongoing tasks, which might lead to optimal performance in recalling memories, possibly leading to correlations between pupil diameter and negative emotional changes.

Personality change during substance use disorder treatment is associated with improvements in abstinence self-efficacy post-treatment among U.S. military veterans

Prior research suggests that personality traits change during substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. However, the extent to which changes in traits during SUD treatment are associated with subsequent improvements in treatment outcomes remains untested. Among U.S. military veterans (n = 200) enrolled in SUD residential treatment, we examined whether changes in the personality factors of positive emotionality (PEM), negative emotionality (NEM), and constraint (CON) during treatment were associated with subsequent changes in abstinence self-efficacy and SUD symptoms. We analyzed data at treatment entry, discharge, and 12-months post-discharge via univariate and bivariate latent change score models. During treatment, PEM, CON, and abstinence self-efficacy increased, while NEM decreased, on average. Changes in NEM and CON were largely sustained, whereas PEM and abstinence self-efficacy significantly decreased post-treatment. SUD symptoms decreased from pre- to post-treatment. In bivariate models, higher levels of NEM at baseline were associated with less improvement in both abstinence self-efficacy during treatment and SUD symptoms pre- to post-treatment. Higher levels of CON at baseline were associated with greater improvement in SUD symptoms pre- to post-treatment, and increases in CON during treatment were associated with greater retention of treatment gains in abstinence self-efficacy post-treatment. Greater improvements in CON during treatment were also associated with greater improvements in SUD symptoms pre- to post-treatment in unadjusted (p = 0.041) but not adjusted models (p = 0.089). Our findings suggest that personality changes marked by improvements in impulse control over the course of SUD treatment may be linked to subsequent improvements in treatment outcomes and may have value as a proximal treatment target among SUD patients during residential care.

Understanding How Virtual Reality Can Support Mindfulness Practice: Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundRegular mindfulness practice has been demonstrated to be beneficial for mental health, but mindfulness can be challenging to adopt, with environmental and personal distractors often cited as challenges. Virtual reality (VR) may address these challenges by providing an immersive environment for practicing mindfulness and by supporting the user to orient attention to the present moment within a tailored virtual setting. However, there is currently a limited understanding of the ways in which VR can support or hinder mindfulness practice. Such an understanding is required to design effective VR apps while ensuring that VR-supported mindfulness is acceptable to end users.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore how VR can support mindfulness practice and to understand user experience issues that may affect the acceptability and efficacy of VR mindfulness for users in the general population.MethodsA sample of 37 participants from the general population trialed a VR mindfulness app in a controlled laboratory setting. The VR app presented users with an omnidirectional video of a peaceful forest environment with a guided mindfulness voiceover that was delivered by a male narrator. Scores on the State Mindfulness Scale, Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, and single-item measures of positive and negative emotion and arousal were measured pre- and post-VR for all participants. Qualitative feedback was collected through interviews with a subset of 19 participants. The interviews sought to understand the user experience of mindfulness practice in VR.ResultsState mindfulness (P<.001; Cohen d=1.80) and positive affect (P=.006; r=.45) significantly increased after using the VR mindfulness app. No notable changes in negative emotion, subjective arousal, or symptoms of simulator sickness were observed across the sample. Participants described the user experience as relaxing, calming, and peaceful. Participants suggested that the use of VR helped them to focus on the present moment by using visual and auditory elements of VR as attentional anchors. The sense of presence in the virtual environment (VE) was identified by participants as being helpful to practicing mindfulness. Interruptions to presence acted as distractors. Some uncomfortable experiences were discussed, primarily in relation to video fidelity and the weight of the VR headset, although these were infrequent and minor.ConclusionsThis study suggests that an appropriately designed VR app can support mindfulness practice by enhancing state mindfulness and inducing positive affect. VR may help address the challenges of practicing mindfulness by creating a sense of presence in a tailored VE; by allowing users to attend to visual and auditory anchors of their choice; and by reducing the scope of the content in users’ mind-wandering. VR has the unique capability to combine guided mindfulness practice with tailored VEs that lend themselves to support individuals to focus attention on the present moment.