Can virtual reality or yoga calm student nerves? a trial puts them to the test
NCT ID NCT06639841
First seen Jul 31, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Summary
This pilot trial compares two non-drug approaches—virtual reality (VR) psychotherapy and yoga—to see which better reduces performance anxiety in students aged 18 to 35. Participants will attend six to ten sessions of either VR-based guided meditation or yoga relaxation over four weeks, then complete questionnaires measuring anxiety, emotional regulation, and quality of life. The goal is to determine which intervention more effectively eases anxiety during public speaking and exams, potentially offering students a practical way to manage stress.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual reality psychotherapy and yoga-based relaxation techniques
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward effective non-drug options for managing performance anxiety in students, potentially improving academic performance and well-being.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not apply broadly. The interventions may not significantly outperform each other, and individual responses can vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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55 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2024
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 35 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 35 years; * Currently enrolled university students or recent graduates (within the last 2 years) pursuing further studies (e.g., Master's or PhD) in the same area of expertise; * Mild to moderate levels of trait anxiety as measured by validated psychological inventories (e.g., STAI-Y1); Able to fully understand study procedures; * No prior exposure to the specific interventions being tested (i.e., Virtual Reality Psychotherapy or Yoga interventions); * Able to provide informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * History of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder); * Currently receiving psychiatric or psychological treatment, including ongoing psychotropic medication; * History of adverse reactions to Virtual Reality technology (e.g., motion sickness, dizziness, allergy to headset and controllers materials); * Significant physical limitations preventing participation in yoga exercises; * Pregnant individuals, due to physical limitations related to yoga and potential psychological sensitivity to Virtual Reality; * Individuals not fluent in Romanian and English, as the interventions and assessments will be conducted in Romanian, with the Virtual Reality intervention partly in English.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Romanian Academy of Sciences
Iași, Iaşi, 700506, Romania
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