Introduction: Extended Reality (XR), comprising Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), represents an innovative frontier in psychology, significantly transforming measurement methodologies and intervention strategies. This presentation discusses XR's recent advancements and practical applications within psychological research and therapeutic practice, specifically emphasizing different contexts.
Purpose: The presentation will critically examine XR's role in psychological measurement and intervention, highlighting evidence-based findings from our extensive research involving different target populations (e.g. cancer patients). Special focus will be given to psychometric evaluations that uncover the mental mechanisms driving XR interventions' success.
Method: Drawing from empirical data obtained through prior XR and VR studies conducted in different settings, this presentation will detail methodological approaches integrating XR for psychological assessment and therapeutic intervention. Particular attention will be devoted to examining psychometric tools utilized to quantify emotional resilience, distress, anxiety, and other relevant psychological variables.
Results: Our extensive investigations have established XR as an efficacious intervention tool capable of substantially intervening on psychological variables. Psychometric assessments using XR have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in identifying underlying cognitive-emotional processes, significantly advancing personalized psychological care. Moreover, our findings have clarified pivotal mental processes that are instrumental in mediating intervention effectiveness.
Conclusions: The presentation underscores XR's transformative impact on psychology, particularly highlighting its psychometric potential and clinical utility in different settings. Future directions for research and practical applications will be outlined, aiming to refine interventions to enhance outcomes through advanced XR methodologies.