StressTech Wearables: Extending Stress Data Collection & Insight Beyond the Phone

So to progress one Stresstech category beyond the Mobile Apps we discussed in our last post, this post let’s explore StressTech Wearables. Note this post is written with the assistance of Google Gemini.?

What are StressTech Wearables?

Digital mental health wearables are tech devices worn on the body that track physiological and behavioral data related to the body's various energy waves that reflect healthy and unhealthy stress levels. This data can include biometrics like heart rate, heart rate variability, sweat levels, voice characteristics, etc., and behavioral metrics like movement, sleep, relaxation, diet language, and mobility patterns.

Wearables can provide a more convenient and effective means for the execution of a eustress regimen of proper sleep, movement, relaxation, diet, and relationships. Further, they enable a more direct and continuous collection of data which yields richer insights into how our thinking, emotional regulation, and behaviors are producing more eustress or distress.

StressTech wearables come in a limited variety of forms, most notably:

• Smartwatches, that track the varieties of data points mentioned above along with containing apps that support the 5 Pillars of Health. Their beauty is their portability as well as their contact with the body which enables their continuous data collection and stress insights production via one's risk. Popular versions of these are Apple, Google, Garmin and there are others.
• Headbands & Chestbands, that track brain waves, heart rate, and breath activity. These are not the sort of wearables you wear all day. They are made more for sessions where you relax or sleep. My favorite headband in this category is the Muse Meditation Headband, and there are others. I especially like to follow the work of Dr. Cody Rall of Tech for Psych in this area. As to chest bands, I like the Polar and Wahoo brands.
• Sensor Pads, that track sleep and breathing. The Withings Sleep Pad is the one I am most familiar with.
• Gait Trackers are sensors in shoe insoles that measure how one walks as an indicator of movement and its links to physical stress. A version of this I found in my research is the SennoTech InsoleX.
• Augmented Reality Lenses, or Smart Glasses, are eyeglasses that have an information display on the inside of the glasses lens and are akin to putting a smartwatch display on the inside of a pair of glasses tracking similar health data as that of smartwatches. Here is an article that reviews a variety of smart glass models on the market.
• Smart Shirts are wearable vests that because of their direct contact with the torso under one's clothes, closely track heart & breath rate, heart rate variability, activity levels & sleep. This is an offering that the typical consumer will not purchase but if you are a performance athlete, it may pique your interest. The offering in this space I am most familiar with is the HexoSkin.

What are their Benefits?

Wearables carry several benefits for stress management. These include:

• Continuous Tracking is the 4th role tech plays in stress management, along with education, training, and social support. This tracking broadens self-awareness of our physical and behavioral states which mirror our stress levels. With this awareness comes an understanding of patterns and fluctuations that empower one to manage the effects of stress on their health more effectively. An example might be one noticing heart or breath rate spikes in certain situations which prompts them to more assertively use relaxation techniques in these situations. Further, if one chooses to use this information with their healthcare professionals it can help inform treatment plans, track progress over time, and personalize interventions to meet your needs.
• Timely practice & training are the 2nd role tech plays in stress management, as wearables often have built-in tools like guided meditations, breathing exercises, visualizations, etc. These tools and techniques make for empowerment and better coping, with practice, and in every Pillar area that underpins good stress management, sleep, diet, relaxation, movement, and social support.
• Wearables' portability and on-body accessibility make them uniquely convenient and discreet for tracking health biometrics and behaviors. This feature can even increase our understanding of situations and interactions that are distressful for us, extending our understanding of how the 5 Pillars can situationally keep us healthy.

What are their Risks?

Wearables also carry several risks that must be managed as we approach using them. These include:

• Data accuracy and interpretation that is a risk to consider as the link between our tracked data is an approximation of our stress levels, not a medically precise diagnosis. When I use this sort of data I am interested in trends that form day-to-day on the same wearable. These relative longitudinal trends provide insights that alert me to adjustments I need to make in my daily stress management practice. It is important to understand that factors like how the device is worn in terms of tightness or position, or external conditions like temperature can affect data results. This awareness should temper our absolute trust in what wearables tell us.
• Data & identity privacy is a risk to consider given the significant amount of personal data wearables can collect, inclusive of sleep patterns, heart rate, and activity levels. Unfortunately, wearables companies are increasingly vulnerable to hackers that break into secure databases and giving in to the temptation to sell our data, without proactive disclosure, for revenue. Digital technology users should carefully research the data privacy practices of any device, wearable or otherwise, to understand how they approach the protection and monetization of their data.
• Fixation on negative stress data trends is another risk to manage. Continuous tracking of stress levels can lead to increased unintended anxiety. It's important to use wearables as a tool for insights, not a vehicle for self-criticism.
• Understanding stress management wearables' proper role is important as they are helpful tools for self-monitoring, but they cannot diagnose or treat health conditions this is the role of healthcare professionals.

What is the Evidence of their Effectiveness?

The evidence for the effectiveness of digital mental health wearables is still emerging, with some promising, though limited, results. It is also worth noting that evidence suggests wearables are most effective when used alongside other strategies, such as therapy or self-care practices. Here is a study and a website for further exploration:

• Impact of Wearable Devices in Mental Health and Quality of Life Canadian Journal of Nursing Informatics. Here "10 articles ... showed that the usage of wearable devices in mental health significantly improves the real-time cognitive assessment of mental health conditions, supports clinicians in the detection or mode of treatment, and promotes mental wellness."
• Beyond the Lab: Wearable Technology for Mental Health Labfront. Here is an update on Project Cheria, which is "discovering how combining digital mental health applications with physiological data can lead to more personalized mental health care."

Conclusion

Digital mental health wearables are a promising development, provided they are used with a balanced perspective. By understanding their benefits and risks, we can make informed decisions about how they can be helpful additions to our stress management regimen. As research progresses and technology advances, we can expect wearables to play an increasing role in enabling our resilience against distress as well as helping us better understand what makes for eustress. We will also continue to learn how they are most effective when used in combination with established therapeutic approaches and self-care practices.

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