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Introduction
With the swift growth of information technology (IT), a new media communication environment has become the main channel of information exchange in modern society. New media forms such as social media, online video, and instant messaging have greatly enriched teenagers’ social lives and information acquisition methods (Dhiman 2023). However, this rapid information flow and high interactivity have also brought unprecedented challenges to the mental health of teenagers. Cyberbullying, privacy disclosure, information overload, and other issues are increasingly prominent, which have a far-reaching impact on teenagers’ self-identity, emotional adjustment, and social skills (Conti et al. 2023; Li et al. 2024; Ashaari et al. 2023). Studies have shown that adolescents who rely too much on new media are more prone to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression (Novera et al. 2024). Consequently, early identification and effective management of adolescents’ mental health problems are critical for their long-term development.
In this context, virtual reality (VR) technology, as a new immersive media, offers a brand-new mental health management tool. VR technology can provide users with an immersive experience by simulating the real environment, which makes it present great potential in treating psychological diseases such as phobia, anxiety, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Ünlü and Yaşar 2022; Ariana et al. 2024; De Santis and Fantinelli 2024). The immersion and interactivity of VR furnish a safe and controllable environment for teenagers, which is employed to simulate situations that may cause psychological stress in real life, thus helping them learn coping strategies and emotional adjustment skills (Gao 2023). In addition, VR technology has incomparable advantages in providing psychotherapy, such as cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and personalized therapy (Hassan et al. 2024; Zhao et al. 2022). Hence, exploring the application of VR technology in adolescent mental health management is of great significance for developing new mental health intervention methods.
This study evaluates the application effect of VR technology in adolescent mental health management under the background of new media communication. Specific goals include exploring how VR technology can enhance adolescents’ cognitive ability, emotional attitude, social behavior, adaptive ability, and social interaction through immersive experiences and interactivity, and analyzing its potential benefits and mechanisms in mental health management. The research focuses on the following issues:
How effective is VR technology in improving...