Combining virtual reality-based positive mental imagery and dual tasking increases children's willingness to exposure.
Saved in:
| Title: | Combining virtual reality-based positive mental imagery and dual tasking increases children's willingness to exposure. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Bragt-de Jong, H. J. (AUTHOR), Dejonckheere, E. (AUTHOR), Smeets, T. (AUTHOR), Lodder, P. (AUTHOR), Karreman, A. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Cognition & Emotion. Mar2026, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p389-403. 15p. |
| Subjects: | Virtual reality, Mental imagery, Emotion regulation, Phobias, Dual-task paradigm, Anxiety treatment, School children |
| Abstract: | This experiment aimed to test whether FutureMe, a VR-tool combining positive mental imagery and dual tasking, is efficacious in increasing willingness to exposure, and decreasing distress, emotionality, and vividness, of children's autobiographical fears, compared to an active VR control condition. Additionally, the moderating role of emotion regulation difficulties was investigated. Children (N = 557; 53.9% boys), with a mean age of 10.14 years (SD = 1.90), were randomly allocated to either the FutureMe (n = 281) or control (n = 276) condition. Willingness to exposure, distress, emotionality, and vividness were measured at pre- and posttest on a VAS from 0 (not at all) to 100 (very much). Parents (n = 437) filled out the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Parent Report, assessing their child's emotion regulation difficulties. Willingness to exposure increased only in the FutureMe condition. Distress and emotionality decreased in both conditions. Vividness decreased only in the control condition. Emotion regulation difficulties moderated the pre-post change of distress and emotionality only within the control condition. This study shows that the FutureMe could improve children's willingness to exposure, which in clinical practice could lead to less drop-out in anxiety therapy for children. More research is needed on the separate effects of dual tasking and positive mental imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Cognition & Emotion is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
Be the first to leave a comment!
