A study concluded that smartwatches, like the Garmin vivosmart 4, are ineffective in accurately measuring stress levels. The research revealed a minimal relationship between smartwatch data and participants' self-reported stress experiences. Fatigue and sleep reported slight and stronger correlations, respectively. Eiko Fried emphasized the watch's measurements, specifically heart rate, do not reliably indicate emotional states. The research tracked stress, fatigue, and sleep among 800 young adults, leading to concerns over wearable data's interpretation of mental health.
Researchers found almost no relationship between the stress levels reported by the smartwatch and the levels that participants said they experienced. Eiko Fried, an author of the study, said the correlation between the smartwatch and self-reported stress scores was basically zero. He added: 'This is no surprise to us given that the watch measures heart rate and heart rate doesn't have that much to do with the emotion you're experiencing.'
The findings raise important questions about what wearable data can or can't tell us about mental states, said Fried. Be careful and don't live by your smartwatch – these are consumer devices, not medical devices.
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