Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) meditation on stress among parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and NICU provider stress and burnout.
Study design
Parents and providers were randomized to VR meditation, eyeshade relaxation or control group. All participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at the start and end of the study and self-rated mood before and after meditation or relaxation. Providers also completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at start and end of study. Changes in scores were compared among groups.
Results
Self-rated mood increased in VR group parents and providers. Subgroup analysis showed fathers had greater improvement in self-reported mood following VR meditation. There was a significant decrease in VR group provider PSS scores.
Conclusion
VR meditation may furnish an immediate benefit, which may be sustained in NICU providers, and is a novel, accessible stress mitigation tool in the NICU.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Boston Children’s Hospital Medical Staff Organization Faculty Innovated Research Award. Boston Children’s Hospital nursing leadership, Cheryl Toole, MS, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC and Keri Kucharski, BSN, RN, CCRN, participated in development of the NICU parent and provider survey tool.
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Dr. Tierney M. Morrison led study design, study recruitment, enrollment, and completion of study procedures, data collection, and prepared the first draft of the manuscript and synthesized edits from co-authors. Dr. Anne Hansen was instrumental in conceptualization of the study, including study design and made significant contributions to the development of the manuscript. Dr. Henry Feldman made significant contributions in study design, statistical analysis and provided significant contributions to the development of the manuscript. Dr. Jeffrey Jacobson is the XR lead of Boston Children’s Immersive Design Systems and was instrumental in identification of the TRIPP virtual reality software, provided technological support throughout the study, and contributed to the final version of the manuscript.
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Competing interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Scenes from TRIPP Virtual Reality Meditations (download PDF )
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Cite this article
Morrison, T.M., Jacobson, J., Feldman, H.A. et al. Evaluation of virtual reality-based meditation as a tool to mitigate stress among parents and providers in the neonatal intensive care unit.
J Perinatol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-026-02800-z
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Version of record:15 July 2026
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DOI
:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-026-02800-z
