Mitigating stress and anxiety in a social VR-based Trier Social Stress Test: The role of trait anxiety in cognitive and mindfulness interventions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cognitive restructuring and mindfulness-based meditation would alleviate stress and anxiety induced by a social VR-based TSST within StressMeta, the platform that we developed. Additionally, we investigated whether the effectiveness of these interventions would vary based on trait anxiety levels. A total of 60 college students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: cognitive restructuring, mindfulness-based meditation, or control. Results revealed that StressMeta effectively induced stress but did not significantly increase anxiety. Contrary to expectations, neither cognitive restructuring nor mindfulness-based meditation significantly reduced stress or anxiety compared to the control condition. However, trait anxiety moderated the effects of the interventions. Individuals with high trait anxiety showed greater reductions in stress and anxiety following cognitive restructuring and mindfulness-based meditation compared to those with low trait anxiety. These findings suggest that cognitive and mindfulness-based interventions may be particularly beneficial for individuals with high trait anxiety, while their effectiveness for those with low trait anxiety may be limited. Finally, the results underscore the potential of social VR as a tool for studying and managing stress in controlled, interactive environments, suggesting its applicability in psychological interventions.

Keywords: Cognitive restructuring; Mindfulness; Social VR; Stress regulation; Trait anxiety; Trier Social Stress Test.