The Effects of a Nature-Based Mindfulness-Compassion Intervention for Older Adults Delivered Using Virtual Reality

Summary

The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate, increasing the necessity for effective interventions targeting the mental health needs of older adults. Virtual reality (VR) is a type of technology with the potential to improve mental health and well-being that allows users, via electronic devices such as headsets or goggles, to interact within simulated environments. VR programs using nature, mindfulness-meditation, and compassion may be more immersive and engaging, with research showing that these programs are effective at improving mental health and well-being outcomes in younger adults. However, evidence in this area for older adults is currently lacking.

The present project intends to pilot and examine a multi-user 360-High Definition (HD) video VR application, called "Toujours Dimanche", developed in partnership with Super Sublime, a Montreal-based not-for-profit company. This VR application aims to support older adults through incorporating elements of nature, mindfulness-meditation, and compassion via a 4-week program of twice weekly, 10 to 20-minute meditation sessions, for a total of 8 sessions. Thus, this study seeks to pilot, revise and iteratively evaluate, via randomized control trial (RCT) methodology, the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a multi-user 360-HD video VR application (Toujours Dimanche) at improving older adult mental health and well-being.

It is hypothesized that engagement with the 4-week VR-Meditation intervention will lead to lower scores on stress and negative affect and improved scores on well-being, positive affect, and mindfulness, in addition to increased scores on coping self-efficacy, connection with nature, embodied mindfulness, and self-compassion, over time and as compared to the active control group (who will receive psycho-educational pamphlets 1x/week for 4 weeks).

Conditions

• Mental Health Wellness 1
• Healthy Aging

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Virtual Reality (VR) Meditation

The VR-Meditation intervention comprises an evidence-based 360-degree high-definition video VR application incorporating elements of nature, mindfulness and compassion. The VR-Meditation intervention is 4 weeks long and includes includes 4 different themes during the course of the program. Each week will focus on a distinct theme and will consist of two 20-minute VR sessions starting with a 10-minute guided meditation related to the weekly theme (one new meditation per week), followed by 10 minutes of open exploration of the virtual environment, for a total of 8 distinct sessions. The weekly themes are as follows: * Week 1 - Mindfulness of the Environment * Week 2 - Embodied Mindfulness * Week 3 - Embodied and Embedded Compassion * Week 4 - Mindfulness, Compassion, and the External Environment In addition to baseline measures, participants in the VR Meditation condition will be asked to complete measures at mid-point (week 3), post-intervention (week 5), and follow-up (week 9).

BEHAVIORAL

Psychoeducational Pamphlet

The Psychoeducational Pamphlet intervention is 4 weeks long. Participants receive 1 pamphlet per week for a total of 4 different pamphlets. Handouts will provide information about managing stress and enhancing well-being, without referencing nature, mindfulness or compassion (e.g., eating habits, sleep hygiene, relaxation training, art exercises). The handouts will be based on empirical findings and will be written in accessible language with visual charts and specific practices to facilitate their implementation by participants. At the end of the study (i.e., after follow-up), Psychoeducation Pamphlet participants will receive access to the VR-Meditation program. In addition to baseline measures, participants in the Psycho-educational Pamphlet condition will be asked to complete measures at mid-point (week 3), post-intervention (week 5), and follow-up (week 9).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Super Sublime | Super Splendide

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Résidences Enharmonie

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• McGill University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Bassam Khoury, PhD · McGill University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-07-21

Primary Completion

2023-11-01

Completion

2023-11-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations