Background
The increasing prevalence of psychological issues among older adults is a significant public health concern. Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is being investigated and tested as a potential intervention tool for addressing these issues.
Objective
This review aims to assess the effectiveness of IVR devices in enhancing the psychological well-being of older adults.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases up to January 24, 2024. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials, version 2, was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies and determine the levels of evidence for the outcomes. Results are reported as Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) with 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs).
Results
The primary outcomes of this review were depression and anxiety, with psychological well-being as the secondary outcome. Among the 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included (n = 15), for overall methodological quality, 1 study showed high risk, 6 studies showed some concerns and 8 studies showed low risk. A total of 802 older adults participated across the studies. Compared with control groups, IVR intervention was more effective in reducing depression (SMD -0.608, 95 % CI -0.900 ∼ −0.315, P < 0.001), anxiety (SMD -0.708, 95 % CI -1.119 ∼ −0.297, P = 0.001), and more effective in improving psychological well-being (SMD 0.641, 95 % CI 0.068–1.214, P = 0.028).
Conclusions
IVR has the potential to improve the psychological health of older adults and may be widely applicable in promoting successful aging.