Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction

Ying Weng; Zuo Chen

doi:10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction

Ying Weng^*
, Zuo Chen

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Traditional Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) therapies often lack engagement, and existing Virtual Reality (VR) systems frequently overlook empathetic interaction. To address this, a Unity-based VR prototype incorporating empathetic design is introduced. The system features avatars that provide encouragement and emotional support to sustain child motivation. Preliminary testing has verified technical feasibility. Furthermore, an evaluation framework is proposed to assess impacts on attention and emotional regulation. By integrating empathy into VR interventions, this study contributes to the development of child-centered digital therapeutics, which is designed to enhance both effectiveness and user acceptance.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	1303-1304
Number of pages	2
ISBN (Electronic)	9798319505293
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326
Publication status	Published - 2026
Event	2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026 - Daegu, Korea, Republic of Duration: 21 Mar 2026 → 25 Mar 2026

Publication series

Name	Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026

Conference

Conference	2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026
Country/Territory	Korea, Republic of
City	Daegu
Period	21/03/26 → 25/03/26

Free Keywords

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Child-Computer Interaction
Empathetic Interaction
Virtual Reality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Science Applications
Human-Computer Interaction
Media Technology
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Access to Document

10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

Cite this

Weng, Y., & Chen, Z. (2026). Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction. In Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026 (pp. 1303-1304). (Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

Weng, Ying ; Chen, Zuo. / Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD : Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction. Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. pp. 1303-1304 (Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026).

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title = "Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction",

abstract = "Traditional Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) therapies often lack engagement, and existing Virtual Reality (VR) systems frequently overlook empathetic interaction. To address this, a Unity-based VR prototype incorporating empathetic design is introduced. The system features avatars that provide encouragement and emotional support to sustain child motivation. Preliminary testing has verified technical feasibility. Furthermore, an evaluation framework is proposed to assess impacts on attention and emotional regulation. By integrating empathy into VR interventions, this study contributes to the development of child-centered digital therapeutics, which is designed to enhance both effectiveness and user acceptance.",

keywords = "Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Child-Computer Interaction, Empathetic Interaction, Virtual Reality",

author = "Ying Weng and Zuo Chen",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 IEEE.; 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026 ; Conference date: 21-03-2026 Through 25-03-2026",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

pages = "1303--1304",

booktitle = "Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026",

address = "United States",

}

Weng, Y & Chen, Z 2026, Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction. in Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026. Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 1303-1304, 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026, Daegu, Korea, Republic of, 21/03/26. https://doi.org/10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction. / Weng, Ying; Chen, Zuo.
Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. p. 1303-1304 (Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD

T2 - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026

AU - Weng, Ying

AU - Chen, Zuo

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Traditional Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) therapies often lack engagement, and existing Virtual Reality (VR) systems frequently overlook empathetic interaction. To address this, a Unity-based VR prototype incorporating empathetic design is introduced. The system features avatars that provide encouragement and emotional support to sustain child motivation. Preliminary testing has verified technical feasibility. Furthermore, an evaluation framework is proposed to assess impacts on attention and emotional regulation. By integrating empathy into VR interventions, this study contributes to the development of child-centered digital therapeutics, which is designed to enhance both effectiveness and user acceptance.

AB - Traditional Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) therapies often lack engagement, and existing Virtual Reality (VR) systems frequently overlook empathetic interaction. To address this, a Unity-based VR prototype incorporating empathetic design is introduced. The system features avatars that provide encouragement and emotional support to sustain child motivation. Preliminary testing has verified technical feasibility. Furthermore, an evaluation framework is proposed to assess impacts on attention and emotional regulation. By integrating empathy into VR interventions, this study contributes to the development of child-centered digital therapeutics, which is designed to enhance both effectiveness and user acceptance.

KW - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

KW - Child-Computer Interaction

KW - Empathetic Interaction

KW - Virtual Reality

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038679444

U2 - 10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

DO - 10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105038679444

T3 - Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026

SP - 1303

EP - 1304

BT - Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Y2 - 21 March 2026 through 25 March 2026

ER -

Weng Y, Chen Z. Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction. In Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2026. p. 1303-1304. (Proceedings - 2026 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops, VRW 2026). doi: 10.1109/VRW70859.2026.00326

Empathy-Driven Virtual Reality for ADHD: Integrating Emotional Support into Child-Computer Interaction

Abstract

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Free Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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