Avatar Customization and Embodiment in Virtual Reality Self-Compassion Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: Three-Part Mixed Methods Study
Stylized avatars, when paired with customization and mirrored embodiment, can support UX and therapeutic benefit in VR self-compassion therapy. These findings challenge the assumption that hyperrealistic avatars are superior and highlight the importance of emotionally congruent design choices. The combination of stylization, individualization, and visual feedback may offer a low-barrier, user-aligned strategy for future therapeutic VR applications.
Authors
- Julie D. Henry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2081-3717)
- Jarrod Knibbe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8844-8576)
- T.C. Elliott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1836-8847)
- Nilufar Baghaei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1776-7075)
- Yanzhuo Yang
Institutions
- The University of Queensland (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JMIR Formative Research
- Published
- 2025-08-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2196/71004
- Primary Topic
- Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00