Dataset for “Exploring the moderating role of maternal attachment style on the impact of a virtual reality environment on parental empathy and style: A Pilot study”

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.

Keywords:

virtual embodiment parenting immersive VR empathy maltreatment

Subjects:

Psychology

Psychology

Cite this dataset as:
Hamilton-Giachritsis, C., Airdrie, J., Petrini, K., Jicol, C., 2026. Dataset for “Exploring the moderating role of maternal attachment style on the impact of a virtual reality environment on parental empathy and style: A Pilot study”. Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01670.

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to restricted data

Access on request: Access available to bona fide researchers only. Participants have only given their consent for their data to be used for future research.

Creators

Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis
University of Bath

0000-0001-9796-2107

Jac Airdrie
University of Bath

Karin Petrini
University of Bath

0000-0001-5354-5600

Crescent Jicol
University of Bath

0000-0003-0599-8108

Contributors

University of Bath
Rights Holder

Coverage

Collection date(s):

From 25 November 2019 to 22 February 2020

Documentation

Data collection method:

Local organisations advertised the study (e.g., charities, nurseries, parenting magazines, social media) and participants contacted the research team if they wished to take part. There were two conditions, counter-balanced (a) warm, supportive mother - harsh, critical mother; or b) harsh, critical mother - warm, supportive mother). Pre- and post- VR exposure, participants completed self-reported questionnaires in person over the course of two visits to University of Bath Psychology department. The Mind in the Eyes task required identifying emotional expressions on a face presented on a laptop.

Technical details and requirements:

SPSS file