Extending the PERMA Framework to Immersive Technologies: A Qualitative Exploration of Well-Being in Digital Environments

The goal of this study was to explore the applicability and potential expansion of the PERMA well-being framework within immersive technology contexts, identifying both traditional and newly emerging subdimensions of positive psychological experience. A focus group interview with five participants was conducted to identify experiential factors related to well-being in immersive environments. While several dimensions aligned with the traditional PERMA model, unique subdimensions specific to immersive technology emerged. Within Positive Emotion (P), participants reported feelings of wonder/awe, being touched, freedom, and healing. The Engagement (E) dimension did not reveal new items. In Relationships (R), affective empathy and emotional connection were identified as additional components. For Meaning (M), growth appeared as a distinct element, and within Accomplishment (A), achievement-related anxiety was prominently observed. These findings suggest that immersive technology environments may both enhance and complicate well-being experiences, emphasizing the need for an expanded PERMA scale that captures the unique affective and cognitive processes involved. This study contributes to the ongoing development of well-being measures tailored to immersive contexts and provides a foundation for addressing achievement-related anxiety from a healing perspective within both academic research and industry applications.