What Works Best for Whom?

Stress threatens physical and mental health. Reactions to acute stress comprise multiple levels, including negative thoughts, bodily symptoms and behaviors. Individuals differ in their reaction to acute stress, and importantly, also in the extent to which these levels align, with a closer correspondence between psychological and physiological stress indicators being beneficial for mental health and well-being. This preregistered study investigates such individual differences systematically by inducing psychological (social-evaluative) and physiological (cold water) stress with the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) in 149 healthy adults. Participants indicated the extent to which they perceived to be stressed and four physiological stress indicators (blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase) were measured. Finally, multiple personality traits were assessed as potential moderators, including the Big Five, trait anxiety, and general cognitive ability. In line with previous research, psychological and physiological stress indicators were only weakly correlated. However, considering individual differences in personality, revealed especially conscientiousness and openness as potential moderators of the correspondence between psychological and physiological stress indicators. We propose individual differences in interoceptive abilities as another critical moderator, which deserves further investigation, and discuss how future research on individual differences in psycho-physiological correspondence can contribute to further our understanding of mental and physical diseases.Impact StatementStress has substantially increased over the last decade. A missing correspondence between self-reported stress and physiological stress measures has been related to mental illnesses and lower well-being. In revealing that specific personality traits might act as potential moderators of the psycho-physiological correspondence, our research complements recent prospects towards personalized medicine and offers starting points for the development of individualized psychological interventions and prevention programs.

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Psychological and physiological health outcomes of virtual reality-based mindfulness interventions: A systematic review and evidence mapping of empirical studies

Wieczorek,

Schrank,

Renner

et al. 2024

DIGITAL HEALTH

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Objective In the past two decades, mindfulness, rooted in Buddhist traditions, has gained considerable scientific interest. Virtual reality (VR) technology, in particular head-mounted displays, offers immersive experiences and is examined in this systematic review in terms of VR-based mindfulness interventions and their effects on psychological and physiological health outcomes. Methods Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analyses guidelines, a systematic search was conducted with the following search terms: [(mindful* OR “meditat*”) AND (“virtual reality” OR “VR”) AND (health OR physio* OR psycho* OR mental OR physical)]. Considering critiques of methodological quality in existing systematic reviews, this study adopts Boell and Cecez-Kecmanovic’s hermeneutic approach, critically evaluating research outcomes. Results Psychological benefits include improved anxiety, mindfulness, emotions, disease patterns, affect, stress, (presleep) arousal, meditation and others. Physiological effects focus on neurobiological markers, heart rate/heart rate variability, pain, blood pressure, cortisol and galvanic skin resistance. Evidence mapping shows that more research has been conducted in the last 6 years, particularly by North American and South Korean authors, and points to gaps in study methodology. In addition, attention regulation is identified as a primary mindfulness mechanism in VR scenarios, often in nature-based virtual environments, with mainly single-session studies lasting 5 or 10 minutes. Discussion Critical mapping reveals the need for additional studies to support and extend initial findings in this emerging research field. Methodologically, there is a call for more true-experimental studies to enhance rigor. From a content perspective, VR protocols are currently still strongly characterized by single-session interventions, which makes it especially difficult to make a dose–response statement regarding long-term effects. Conclusion In summary, the studies provide important initial findings on psychological and physiological effects of VR-based mindfulness interventions on health. In addition, the need for more methodologically rigorous studies was emphasized, along with other methodological adjustments that must be carefully considered in the planning of future studies.

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What Works Best for Whom?

Cited by 3 publications

References 63 publications

Advancing Health Psychology Through Ecological Bio-Psycho-Social Assessments

Advancing Health Psychology Through Ecological Bio-Psycho-Social Assessments

Individual Differences in the Correspondence Between Psychological and Physiological Stress Indicators

Psychological and physiological health outcomes of virtual reality-based mindfulness interventions: A systematic review and evidence mapping of empirical studies

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