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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

ISSN Online: 2576-0548 ISSN Print: 2576-0556 CODEN: JHASAY
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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.03.021

A Study on the Interactive Design of Virtual Reality Therapeutic Spaces for Youth Emotional Anxiety

Yizheng Li

Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong, China.

*Corresponding author: Yizheng Li

Published: March 31, 2026

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of emotional anxiety among contemporary youth and its complex patterns of psychological suppression. By integrating Virtual Reality (VR) technology with Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), a theoretical framework is established to construct targeted, interactive, and exploratory VR therapeutic spaces aimed at alleviating anxiety in youth emotional cognition. Based on users’ cognitive behavioral characteristics, key interactive design elements within VR therapeutic environments are identified. Through user research, experiential needs analysis, and data-driven insights, the core demands of anxious youth are systematically distilled into corresponding design strategies. The study emphasizes the reconstruction of emotional cognition and the redefinition of ambiguous subject identities within immersive environments, thereby mitigating anxiety arising from diverse environmental influences. Furthermore, personalized therapeutic interaction strategies grounded in behavioral cognition are proposed to meet users’ intrinsic needs, enhance emotional experience, and improve their understanding and perception of real-life contexts. This research also seeks to provide valuable references and insights for the diversified development of VR therapeutic spaces.

Keyword

Emotional anxiety intervention; Virtual reality; Art therapy; Interactive design; User experience

References

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

How to cite this paper

A Study on the Interactive Design of Virtual Reality Therapeutic Spaces for Youth Emotional Anxiety

How to cite this paper: Yizheng Li. (2026) A Study on the Interactive Design of Virtual Reality Therapeutic Spaces for Youth Emotional Anxiety. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science10(3), 365-369.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.03.021