Um exercício de mindfulness com recurso à realidade virtual e biofeedback
Miniatura indisponível
Data
2023
Autores
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
Objetivos: Em geral, este projeto pretende compreender se a RV e o biofeedback, aliados ao
mindfulness, facilitam a prática do mindfulness em comparação com a sua prática tradicional.
Para isto, propusémo-nos a desenvolver e a avaliar uma ferramenta digital em RV, que
consistiu num exercício de atenção mindfulness com recurso a mecanismos de biofeedback.
Método: Participaram 72 indivíduos (4 desistentes), com idades entre 18-57 anos, sendo a
maioria mulheres (n=44, 60,3%). Os participantes foram divididos num dos seguintes grupos:
Condição A - mindfulness, biofeeback e realidade virtual (instruções de áudio em cenário de
realidade virtual com biofeedback); Condição B - mindfulness e realidade virtual (instruções
de áudio em cenário de realidade virtual); Condição C - mindfulness tradicional (somente
instruções de áudio). Foram realizadas avaliações pré e pós experiência. Questionários de
autorrelato foram usados para medir sintomas de ansiedade, sintomas de depressão, stress,
afeto positivo, afeto negativo, consciência recetiva e atenção ao momento pesente. Um registo
do batimento cardíaco também foi realizado ao longo dos exercícios para comparação de
quaisquer diferenças entre as três condições.
Resultados: Todas as condições mostraram resultados significativos na redução do stress, afeto
positivo, ansiedade e batimentos cardíacos do pré ao pós-teste. No que diz respeito à consciência
receptiva e atenção ao momento presente (característica nuclear do mindfulness), verificou-se
um aumento significativo na Condição A (mindfulness, biofeeback e realidade virtual) face às
restantes condições.
Conclusões: Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a prática de mindfulness parece ser uma
estratégia eficaz na promoção do ajustamento psicológico e na redução da atividade fisiológica,
independentemente do formato do exercício realizado pelos indivíduos (exercícios tradicionais
vs. baseados em realidade virtual). No entanto, os nossos resultados sugerem que aliar o
biofeedback a um exercício de mindfulness baseado em realidade virtual pode facilitar a prática
de mindfulness, especialmente no que diz respeito à promoção de estados de mindfulness
(consciência receptiva e atenção ao momento presente). Assim, o uso de realidade virtual e
biofeedback pode ser uma forma eficaz de superar os dois principais problemas da prática de
mindfulness.
Palavras-chave: Mindfulness, Biofeedback, Realidade Virtual, Ansiedade, Stress, Batimento
Cardíaco
Objetivos: In general, this project's main objective is to understand whether virtual reality and biofeedback combined with mindfulness facilitate the practice of mindfulness compared to traditional practice. For this, we propose to develop and evaluate a digital tool in virtual reality, which consists of a mindfulness exercise using biofeedback manipulation. Method: Participants were 72 individuals (4 drop-outs), aged between 18-57, and most of them were women (n=44, 60,3%). Participants were allocated to one of the following groups: Condition A - mindfulness, biofeeback and virtual reality (audio instructions in a virtual reality scenario with biofeedback); Condition B - mindfulness and virtual reality (audio instructions in a virtual reality); Condition C - traditional mindfulness (audio instructions only). Pre and post assessment were conducted. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, stress, positive affect, negative affect, concerns receptive awareness and attention to the present moment. A heartbeat recording was also performed throughout the exercises for a comparison of any differences between the three conditions. Results: All three conditions showed significant results in reducing stress, positive affect, anxiety, and heartbeat from pre to post-test. In what concerns receptive awareness and attention to the present moment (core characteristic of mindfulness), a significant increase was reported in the Condition A (mindfulness, biofeeback and virtual reality) compared to the other conditions. Conclusions: This study’s findings showed that mindfulness practice seems to be an effective strategy in promoting psychological adjustment and reducing physiological activity, independently of the format of the exercise performed by the individuals (traditional vs. virtual reality-based exercises). However, our results suggested that allying biofeedback with a virtual reality-based mindfulness exercise may facilitate mindfulness practice, especially in what concerns to the promotion of mindfulness states (receptive awareness and attention to the present moment). As such, the use of virtual reality and biofeedback may be an effective way to overcome the two main problems of mindfulness practice. Keywords: Mindfulness, Biofeedback, Virtual Reality, Anxiety, Stress, Heartbeat
Objetivos: In general, this project's main objective is to understand whether virtual reality and biofeedback combined with mindfulness facilitate the practice of mindfulness compared to traditional practice. For this, we propose to develop and evaluate a digital tool in virtual reality, which consists of a mindfulness exercise using biofeedback manipulation. Method: Participants were 72 individuals (4 drop-outs), aged between 18-57, and most of them were women (n=44, 60,3%). Participants were allocated to one of the following groups: Condition A - mindfulness, biofeeback and virtual reality (audio instructions in a virtual reality scenario with biofeedback); Condition B - mindfulness and virtual reality (audio instructions in a virtual reality); Condition C - traditional mindfulness (audio instructions only). Pre and post assessment were conducted. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, stress, positive affect, negative affect, concerns receptive awareness and attention to the present moment. A heartbeat recording was also performed throughout the exercises for a comparison of any differences between the three conditions. Results: All three conditions showed significant results in reducing stress, positive affect, anxiety, and heartbeat from pre to post-test. In what concerns receptive awareness and attention to the present moment (core characteristic of mindfulness), a significant increase was reported in the Condition A (mindfulness, biofeeback and virtual reality) compared to the other conditions. Conclusions: This study’s findings showed that mindfulness practice seems to be an effective strategy in promoting psychological adjustment and reducing physiological activity, independently of the format of the exercise performed by the individuals (traditional vs. virtual reality-based exercises). However, our results suggested that allying biofeedback with a virtual reality-based mindfulness exercise may facilitate mindfulness practice, especially in what concerns to the promotion of mindfulness states (receptive awareness and attention to the present moment). As such, the use of virtual reality and biofeedback may be an effective way to overcome the two main problems of mindfulness practice. Keywords: Mindfulness, Biofeedback, Virtual Reality, Anxiety, Stress, Heartbeat
Descrição
Orientação: Pedro Santos Pinto Gamito
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO EM CIBERTERAPIA E REABILITAÇÃO NEUROCOGNITIVA, PSICOLOGIA, PSYCHOLOGY, MINDFULNESS, BIOFEEDBACK, REALIDADE VIRTUAL, VIRTUAL REALITY, ANSIEDADE, ANXIETY, STRESS, FREQUÊNCIA CARDÍACA, HEART RATE