Exploring for the Metaverse as Novel Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Strategies for Insomnia Management: Retrospective Study

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to implement cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) within the Metaverse, exploring its feasibility as an alternative to traditional face-to-face CBTi sessions. Methods: A total of 49 individuals (41 females) participated in the study, predominantly young adults, with 42.9% in their twenties and 42.9% in their thirties. The Metaverse-based program consisted of a single-session designed to educate participants about healthy sleep habits in line with CBTi principles and guide behaviors conducive to better sleep. The participants reported on their sleep patterns at two intervals: the day following the intervention and again 2 weeks later. Results: The findings revealed that after participating in the Metaverse-based program, there was a reported increase in sleep satisfaction (74.5%) and a reduction in sleep latency (64.4%). Comparison of follow-up results to immediate post-program outcomes revealed no significant differences between the two time points in sleep onset latency (t (34)=1.71, p=0.096), number of wakings (t (34)=0.53, p=0.597), or feeling refreshed upon waking (t (34)=1.89, p=0.067). However, there were significant differences between the two time points in sleep satisfaction (t (34)=2.77, p=0.009). Conclusions: Despite certain limitations, the study highlights the promising potential of the Metaverse as an innovative platform for delivering CBTi, indicating its potential effectiveness in enhancing sleep quality among individuals with sleep disturbances.