This systematic review aimed to trace trends in the use of virtual reality (VR) for developing emotional awareness among children with Down syndrome, with a focus on measurable indicators of emotional awareness (recognition, expression, and regulation) and their association with VR characteristics such as level of immersion, task type, feedback, and gamification elements. The review covered peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 in both Arabic and English, and was limited to experimental and quasi-experimental studies that directly measured emotional awareness outcomes for this population within educational and rehabilitative contexts. Reasons for study exclusion were documented, and a PRISMA 2020 flow diagram was prepared.

The results, as of November 7, 2025, indicated that the review concluded with no included studies, as no experimental or quasi-experimental research was found that directly addressed the development of emotional awareness or its components among children with Down syndrome using virtual reality. Existing VR studies targeting this population primarily focused on general psychomotor and behavioral outcomes (such as balance, life skills, and independence), employed non-immersive environments, and did not utilize standardized instruments to assess emotional domains. Consequently, it was not possible to estimate the effect size for emotional awareness indicators.

Keywords: Virtual reality, Emotional awareness, Down syndrome, Systematic review

Conference Title

The Twelfth International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, and the Humanities, Social, and Applied Sciences

Conference Country

Turkey

Conference Date

Dec. 2, 2025 - Dec. 3, 2025

Conference Sponsor

مؤسسة سكولار وبالتعاون مع كلية التربية في جامعة أكدنيز الحكومية - أنطاليا.

Additional Info

Conference Website