Development of a modular stress management platform

This paper describes the conceptual design of a virtual reality-based stress management training tool and evaluation of the initial prototype in a pilot efficacy study. Performance Edge virtual-reality (VR) was co-developed with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to address the need for practical st...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2021-02, Vol.16 (2), p.e0245068
Main Authors: Kluge, Murielle G, Maltby, Steven, Walker, Nicole, Bennett, Neanne, Aidman, Eugene, Nalivaiko, Eugene, Walker, Frederick Rohan, Najafi, Bijan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biofeedback training
Health aspects
Methods
Stress management
Technology application
Virtual reality
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper describes the conceptual design of a virtual reality-based stress management training tool and evaluation of the initial prototype in a pilot efficacy study. Performance Edge virtual-reality (VR) was co-developed with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to address the need for practical stress management training for ADF personnel. The VR application is biofeedback-enabled and contains key stress management techniques derived from acceptance and commitment and cognitive behavioural therapy in a modular framework. End-user-provided feedback on usability, design, and user experience was positive, and particularly complimentary of the respiratory biofeedback functionality. Training of controlled breathing delivered across 3 sessions increased participants' self-reported use of breath control in everyday life and progressively improved controlled breathing skills (objectively assessed as a reduction in breathing rate and variability). Thus the data show that a biofeedback-enabled controlled breathing protocol delivered through Performance Edge VR can produce both behaviour change and objective improvement in breathing metrics. These results confirm the validity of Performance Edge VR platform, and its Controlled Breathing module, as a novel approach to tailoring VR-based applications to train stress management skills in a workplace setting.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0245068