This dataset includes data on 18 mothers recruited to take part in a pilot study exploring the impact of a virtual reality experience in which a mother is embodied in the body of a young child and interacts with a warm and supportive or harsh and critical mother. Anonymized demographic data are included along with self-reported questionnaire data collected pre and post exposure to the virtual reality environment on parenting attitudes and behaviours (Adolescent Adult Parenting Inventory and Parenting Scale), adult attachment style (Experiences of Close Relationship Scale), cognitive empathy (Mind in the Eye’s Test). The original dataset included 19 participants but one participant did not provide their consent for data to be used for future research. The remaining participants have provided their consent for data to be used for future research.