Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Mindfulness Program vs Audio-Guided Mindfulness on Depression, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Dementia Family Caregivers: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

A study found that both virtual reality and audio-guided mindfulness programs improved depression, sleep, and quality of life for dementia caregivers, with VR showing promise as an engaging alternative.

Contribution

This is the first exploratory trial comparing VR-based and audio-guided mindfulness for dementia caregivers, highlighting VR's potential as an engaging delivery method.

Findings

Both VR and audio-guided mindfulness significantly improved depression, sleep quality, and quality of life within groups.

No significant differences were found between the VR and audio-guided groups in outcomes.

VR showed no adverse effects and may enhance user experience in mindfulness delivery.

Abstract

Family caregivers of individuals with dementia often experience significant psychological and physical burdens. While mindfulness-based interventions have shown potential in improving caregiver well-being, the effects of integrating virtual reality (VR) technology into these interventions remain underexplored.

This study compared a VR-based mindfulness program with an audio-guided mindfulness program on depression, sleep quality, and quality of life among family caregivers of people with dementia.

An exploratory randomized controlled trial was conducted with 16 dementia family caregivers. Participants were randomly assigned to a VR-based mindfulness intervention group or an audio-guided mindfulness active control group. The six-week intervention included practices such as mindful breathing, body scanning, and yoga. The primary outcome was depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D). Secondary outcomes were sleep quality (Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, CPSQI) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Within-group changes were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and between-group differences in change scores were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in depression (VR: -4.50, p = .012; audio: -4.00, p = .012), sleep quality (VR: -1.50, p = .012; audio: -1.50, p = .017), and quality of life (VR: +2.00, p = .012; audio: +3.00, p = .012). Although between-group differences were not statistically significant, no VR-related adverse symptoms were reported, and the findings support further evaluation of VR-delivered mindfulness in larger trials.

Both VR-based and audio-guided mindfulness interventions were associated with within-group improvements in depression, sleep, and quality of life in dementia caregivers. VR offers an engaging alternative for mindfulness delivery, with potential to enhance user experience. Given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, and larger studies are needed to examine VR's added benefits.

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