Children and young peoplewhat the research examines
Short answer: The library holds 24 references on virtual reality and children and young people, published between 2017 and 2026. They include 7 systematic reviews or meta-analyses and 8 randomised controlled trials. The research mainly examines anxiety and pain in dental treatment, paediatric emergency care and oncology procedures.
The evidence in numbers
24References
7Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
8Randomised trials
2017–2026Years
Counted in the RVer study library · languages: English, Spanish. The design of each study was classified by the team from the publication.
What the research examines
- Anxiety and pain in dental treatment, paediatric emergency care and oncology procedures.
- Preparing for examinations such as MRI without sedation.
- Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and dyslexia.
What is not yet known
- Research with younger children.
- Safety and cybersickness at different ages.
- Follow-up after the procedure.
The references, by study design
Meta-analyses · 5
- Effect of immersive virtual reality-based training on cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPalka Mittal · 2024 · Research in Developmental Disabilities, 151: 104771
- Immersive virtual reality for improving cognitive deficits in children with ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysisNiamh Corrigan · 2023 · Virtual Reality (Springer), 27: 3545–3564
- Virtual reality in pediatrics, effects on pain and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis updateFloris Q. Tas · 2022 · Pediatric Anesthesia, 32(12): 1292–1304
- The Effects of Virtual Reality on Procedural Pain and Anxiety in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisRikke Nordgård · 2021 · Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2: 699383
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Virtual Reality in Pediatrics: Effects on Pain and AnxietyRobin Eijlers · 2019 · Anesthesia & Analgesia, 129(5): 1344–1353
Systematic reviews · 2
- Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Technology Interventions in Improving the Social Skills of Children and Adolescents With Autism: Systematic ReviewXipeng Yang · 2025 · Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27: e60845
- Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Evidence-Based Systematic ReviewPatricia Mesa-Gresa · 2018 · Sensors, 18(8): 2486
Randomised controlled trials · 8
- Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction Method on the Level of Salivary Cortisol in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental TreatmentLekshmi R. Suresh · 2026 · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 56(5): 1737–1746
- Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Helps to Improve Postural Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control TrialMohamed A. Abdel Ghafar · 2025 · Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 45(4): 423–436
- Distraction With Virtual Reality Goggles in Paediatric Dental Treatment: A Randomised Controlled TrialLior Zaidman · 2023 · International Dental Journal, 73(1): 108–113
- Effect of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention on Pain and Anxiety Associated With Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement in the Pediatric Setting: A Randomized Clinical TrialJeffrey I. Gold · 2021 · JAMA Network Open, 4(8): e2122569
- A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial of Immersive Virtual Reality Treatment with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Specific Phobias in Young People with Autism Spectrum DisorderMorag Maskey · 2019 · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5): 1912–1927
- Virtual Reality for Pediatric Needle Procedural Pain: Two Randomized Clinical TrialsEvelyn Chan · 2019 · The Journal of Pediatrics, 209: 160–167.e4
- Is Virtual Reality Ready for Prime Time in the Medical Space? A Randomized Control Trial of Pediatric Virtual Reality for Acute Procedural Pain ManagementJeffrey I. Gold · 2018 · Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 43(3): 266–275
- Randomized clinical trial of immersive virtual reality tour of the operating theatre in children before anaesthesiaJ-H Ryu · 2017 · British Journal of Surgery, 104(12): 1628–1633
Non-randomised clinical studies · 1
- Can virtual reality reduce pain and anxiety in pediatric emergency care and promote positive response of parents of children? A quasi-experimental studyMarta Ferraz-Torres · 2023 · International Emergency Nursing, 68: 101268
Pilot or feasibility studies · 2
- Effects of VR-Based Serious Games on Gross Motor Skills in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Education: A Pilot StudyXinbo Wu · 2026 · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 56(9): 3359–3367
- The Impact of Virtual Reality (VR) on Psychological and Physiological Variables in Children Receiving Chemotherapy: A Pilot Cross-Over StudySándor Erdős · 2023 · Integrative Cancer Therapies, 22: 1–8
Case reports or series · 1
- Aplicación de la realidad virtual en niños oncológicos hospitalizados sometidos a procedimientos invasivos: un estudio de casosDiego José Sáez-Rodríguez · 2021 · Psicooncología, 18(1): 157–172
Narrative or scoping reviews · 1
- Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality: A Scoping ReviewFrano Giakoni-Ramírez · 2023 · Healthcare (MDPI), 11(11): 1553
Essays, editorials or conceptual papers · 2
- Using immersive virtual reality with autistic pupils: moving towards greater inclusion and co-participation through ethical practicesNigel Newbutt · 2022 · Journal of Enabling Technologies (Emerald)
- Virtual reality for pain and anxiety in young children: It is far from magicGianluca Bertolizio · 2022 · Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (Editorial)
Clinical studies, design not stated · 2
- Effect of audio and virtual reality distraction on the dental anxiety of children with mild intellectual disabilityDeepshikha Mehrotra · 2023 · Special Care in Dentistry, 2023
- Use of Virtual Reality in Children with DyslexiaGiuseppa Maresca · 2022 · Children (MDPI), 9(11): 1621
Glossary terms
Other topics
This page describes what published research on virtual reality examines in this topic. It is not a claim about RVer's performance and does not replace clinical assessment. The Class I medical device registration (EUDAMED, Basic UDI-DI 56006195127RVERTZ, and INFARMED, Portugal, CDM 94571546) covers the RVer base product.