Wearable Devices for Mental Wellness

Last reviewed by Bruce Bassi

June 10, 2022
Medical Tech

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Wearables have been regularly used to monitor physical activity and sleep, and are now being used for tracking mood changes.
  • There are many challenges with wearables, ranging from data privacy concerns to difficult user interfaces.
Wearable devices for mental health

Wearable technology has been around for decades, but only recently have these gadgets become so affordable and commonplace. These devices are being used in many different ways, from tracking fitness goals to measuring stress levels.

There are several different kinds of wearables available today, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and sleep monitors. Smartwatches are small wristbands that connect to smartphones via Bluetooth. Fitness trackers are similar to smartwatches, except they measure steps taken, calories burned, and other metrics. Sleep monitors are worn on the chest and measure breathing rate, body temperature, and movement.

Wearables for Physical Activity
There are several wearable technologies available today that help people track their physical activity. One of the most common is an accelerometer, which measures movement and tracks steps taken. Other wearables measure heart rate, temperature, and other vital signs.
Man jogging in a field
Wearables for Sleep
Wearables aren’t just for fitness anymore. In fact, there’s a growing number of devices designed specifically to monitor sleep. These devices use sensors to detect when a person falls asleep and wakes up. This data can then be used to improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of falling asleep while driving.
Wearables for Mood
Wearable devices can measure skin temperature, skin conductance, and heart rate variability. A device can make inferences from these measurements about one’s mood, and patients may also monitor changes in these parameters. The user is given feedback about how their mood correlates with these parameters, and how they are affected by breathing techniques, meditation or mindfulness.
Wearables for Sleep Tracking
One of the biggest benefits of wearable technology is its ability to monitor sleep. This includes tracking how much time we spend sleeping, how often we wake up during the night, and whether we snore. These data points can help us understand our sleep habits and identify any issues that might be causing them.
Challenges in the Use of Wearables
  • The devices have limitations in evaluating subjective symptoms
  • Patients do not use these consistently long-term, reflecting their low ability to make a large impact on the wearer
  • The devices may not be accurate, leading to frustration
  • The user may have concerns regarding privacy
  • The feedback may not always be actionable

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