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Music-based immersive technology experience and adolescents’ perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms: cross-sectional evidence on the mediating roles of cognitive restructuring, self-acceptance, and self-efficacy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The rising prevalence of anxiety among adolescents, coupled with its long-term negative impact on mental health and well-being, underscores the urgent need to identify and understand key factors that can alleviate these mental health issues. While music experience has been recognized as a promising approach, its integration with immersive technologies remains underexplored. This cross-sectional study examines how music-based immersive technology experience relates to adolescents' perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms, focusing on the statistical mediating roles of cognitive restructuring, self-acceptance, and self-efficacy. Data from 457 Chinese adolescents' self-report survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicate that engagement in music-based immersive technology experience is positively associated with the adolescents' perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms. In addition, this engagement is positively associated with the cognitive restructuring, self-acceptance, and self-efficacy. These psychological processes are, in turn, positively associated with the perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms. Mediation analyses show that cognitive restructuring, self-acceptance, and self-efficacy significantly statistically mediate the association between music-based immersive technology experience and the adolescents' perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms. Theoretically, this study highlights cognitive restructuring, self-acceptance, and self-efficacy as psychological resources statistically linking immersive music engagement to the adolescents' perceived alleviation of anxiety symptoms. Practically, the findings suggest that integrating music-based therapeutic principles with immersive technologies may support adolescents' perceived anxiety-related mental health by being associated with these psychological resources.

Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1917295

Authors: Ye Ni, Zhaolei Sun, Zhaofeng Li, Enyu Piao, Jianan Zhang

Institutions: Kangwon National University, Zunyi Normal College, Henan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Music Therapy and Health

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801