About this Research Topic

Background

Stress is a challenge that our society is increasingly confronted with and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this effect, both in professional settings and at home. As waiting lists in mental healthcare are growing, digital alternatives can be considered. An important pillar in this digital offering is guided self-help. As such, those who suffer from stress-related complaints are provided with tools to get started themselves. Digital tools, such as smartphone apps, and immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality and 360° video, can enrich existing options.
Accumulating evidence supports the use of digital tools for (mental) health interventions. For example, immersive technologies have been proposed as a stress management tool by immersing users in calming, soothing and often natural environments. However, knowledge on exact modalities of such an application (eg, duration, type of virtual environment, type of instructions, type of exercises etc.), on the one hand, and how to implement these applications, on the other hand, remains limited.

This Research Topic aims to collect and present novel research on the use and implementation of different types of digital tools used for relaxation and stress management in a variety of settings and target groups. These findings have the potential to create insights into technology-supported interventions to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.

This Research Topic welcomes (but is not limited to) the following types of studies:

- Studies assessing the effectiveness of digital tools (eg, smartphone apps, VR apps, internet interventions) to reduce stress and improve wellbeing in various target populations (eg, self-help in home settings or in the workplace).
- Studies comparing the different immersive technology types or environments on a variety
of outcomes.
- Studies assessing implementation of digital tools for stress management and wellbeing in clinical practice for either patients or clinical staff.
- Methodological papers on the development and design of digital tools for stress management and wellbeing.
- Methodological papers on the assessment of wellbeing and mental health when using
digital tools.
- Theoretical or conceptual work on the content of digital tools for relaxation
and stress management

All types of manuscripts may be submitted.

Keywords: ation, wellbeing, stress management, implementation, virtual reality, augmented reality, 360° video, apps, smartphone, self-help

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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