Call for papers: eXtended Reality applications in health psychology and well-being: From Research to Practice

In this special issue, we explore the latest research and the transformative potential of eXtended Reality (XR) in advancing health psychology and well-being. We aim to present the state of the art in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality applications, taking readers on a journey from theoretical to practical application, where XR innovations offer promising avenues for therapeutic intervention and health promotion.

Topics include the innovative use of XR in domains such as stress reduction, pain management, cognitive behavioral therapy applications, rehabilitation programs, behavioral change interventions, and exposure therapy, among others, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding privacy, consent, and psychological impacts, alongside discussions on user experience design and psychophysiological monitoring within XR environments.

By bridging theoretical insights with practical applications, this collection of articles will offer an integrative view of how XR is reshaping the therapeutic landscape and enhancing psychological well-being. Empirical research studies, review articles, case studies, theoretical perspectives, ethical considerations, user experience and design, integration with traditional therapeutic approaches, and discussions on future directions and challenges are all valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Guest editors:

Sergi Bermúdez i Badia
University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal

Alice Chirico
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

Ana Lúcia Faria
University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal

Andrea Gaggioli
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

Manuscript submission information:

Submission deadline: April 15, 2025

You are invited to submit your manuscript at any time before the submission deadline. For any inquiries about the appropriateness of contribution topics, please contact Dr. Sergi Bermúdez i Badia via sergi.bermudez@staff.uma.pt.

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) is now available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of “VSI: XR applications in health psychology and well-being” when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here.

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Keywords:

eXtended Reality (XR), Health Psychology, Well-being, Behavior Change, Therapeutic Interventions, Mental Health, User Experience Design, Psychophysiology, Biofeedback

Why publish in this Special Issue?

• Special Issue articles are published together on ScienceDirect, making it incredibly easy for other researchers to discover your work.
• Special content articles are downloaded on ScienceDirect twice as often within the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues.
• Special content articles attract 20% more citations in the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues.
• All articles in this special issue will be reviewed by no fewer than two independent experts to ensure the quality, originality and novelty of the work published.

Learn more about the benefits of publishing in a special issue.

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