A Virtual Reality Intervention to Reduce Schizophrenia-Related Stigma: Qualitative Findings on Mechanisms of Change, Perceived Advantages, and Implementation Challenges

Rodríguez-Rivas M.E.; Villacura P.; Cangas A.J.; Martin A.; Cariola L.; Fuentes-Olavarría D.; Quiroz-Saavedra R.; Corrigan P. · Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s41347-026-00669-5

Resumen

Immersive technologies are gaining attention as tools to improve public understanding of schizophrenia-related stigma; yet little is known about how users make sense of these interventions, or what mechanisms underpin their impact. Inclúyete-VR, a virtual reality program designed to promote empathy and reduce stigma toward people with schizophrenia, has previously shown significant effects in a randomized controlled trial. This qualitative study explored participants’ perceptions of mechanisms of change, perceived benefits, and challenges following a virtual reality intervention implemented as part of a randomized controlled trial. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 62 university students from the experimental arm of the parent RCT, and data were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis. Participants described three interconnected processes that helped reduce stigma: (1) gaining a more accurate and concrete understanding of schizophrenia; (2) experiencing immersive perspective-taking that fostered embodied empathy; and (3) re-evaluating previously held stereotypes and social distance. Users valued the program’s intuitive interaction, engaging and realistic environments, and recovery-oriented scenarios, which offered a hopeful and nuanced view of schizophrenia. At the same time, they identified areas for improvement, including clearer in-game guidance, enhanced sensory and graphic quality, cultural adaptation of specific scenes, and more intuitive navigation controls. Overall, Inclúyete-VR was perceived as an accessible and meaningful anti-stigma tool that supports experiential learning. These findings highlight the potential of VR to complement traditional educational and clinical strategies, particularly in training contexts, where fostering empathy, reducing fear-based assumptions, and promoting recovery-oriented practice remain central challenges. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental