Wellness Initiatives in Private Higher Education Institutions for the Metaverse: A Systematic Literature Review
Sooraya Ebrahim, Christo A. Bisschoff, Christoff J. Botha, Anna-Marie Pelser · Universal Journal of Public Health · 2025
The metaverse offers transformative potential for private higher education institutions (PHEIs) to enhance wellness initiatives through immersive digital environments. This study aims to systematically investigate how wellness dimensions can be incorporated into metaverse-driven frameworks within PHEIs. This systematic literature review (SLR) explores the integration of wellness dimensions into metaverse-driven frameworks within PHEIs. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the study focuses on the increasing importance of holistic well-being, particularly considering post-pandemic challenges affecting staff and faculty wellness. The review analyzes 21 peer-reviewed articles published from 2014 to 2024, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. The study identifies 12 wellness dimensions: physical, emotional, social, digital, environmental, occupational, intellectual, spiritual, financial, personal identity, professional, and cultural, with their application in metaverse contexts. It also examines the roles of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and gamification in fostering interaction and resilience. The findings highlight the potential of metaverse-driven interventions to improve inclusion, accessibility, and engagement. However, gaps in empirical research and the absence of comprehensive frameworks for PHEIs remain. Leadership support and institutional culture emerge as critical success factors for digital wellness programs. Limitations, such as insufficient funds, stigma surrounding emotional wellness, technological barriers, and resistance to racial wellness initiatives, should be addressed in future research. This study contributes to the growing discourse on human-centered virtual environments, proposing a systematic, evidence-based wellness framework for the metaverse. Future research should explore digital wellness interventions' scalability, effectiveness, and ethical considerations in higher education.