The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study
Abstract BackgroundWearable sensor technologies, often referred to as “wearables,” have seen a rapid rise in consumer interest in recent years. Initially often seen as “activity trackers,” wearables have gradually expanded to also estimate sleep, stress, and physiological reco...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR mHealth and uHealth |
| Online Access: | https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e60708 |
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| author | Herman Jaap de Vries Roos Delahaij Marianne van Zwieten Helen Verhoef Wim Kamphuis |
| author_facet | Herman Jaap de Vries Roos Delahaij Marianne van Zwieten Helen Verhoef Wim Kamphuis |
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Abstract
BackgroundWearable sensor technologies, often referred to as “wearables,” have seen a rapid rise in consumer interest in recent years. Initially often seen as “activity trackers,” wearables have gradually expanded to also estimate sleep, stress, and physiological recovery. In occupational settings, there is a growing interest in applying this technology to promote health and well-being, especially in professions with highly demanding working conditions such as first responders. However, it is not clear to what extent self-monitoring with wearables can positively influence stress- and well-being–related outcomes in real-life conditions and how wearable-based interventions should be designed for high-risk professionals.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate (1) whether offering a 5-week wearable-based intervention improves stress- and well-being–related outcomes in police officers and (2) whether extending a basic “off-the-shelf” wearable-based intervention with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and peer support groups improves its effectiveness.
MethodsA total of 95 police officers from 5 offices participated in the study. The data of 79 participants were included for analysis. During the first 5 weeks, participants used no self-monitoring technology (control period). During the following 5 weeks (intervention period), 41 participants used a Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch with a custom-built app (comparable to that of the consumer-available wearable), whereas the other 38 participants used the same system, but complemented by daily EMA questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and access to peer support groups. At baseline (T0) and after the control (T1) and intervention (T2) periods, questionnaires were administered to measure 15 outcomes relating to stress awareness, stress management self-efficacy, and outcomes related to stress and general well-being. Linear mixed models that accounted for repeated measures within subjects, the control and intervention periods, and between-group differences were used to address both research questions.
ResultsThe results of the first analysis showed that the intervention had a small (absolute Hedges g
ConclusionsOffering a 5-week wearable-based intervention to police officers can positively contribute to optimizing their stress-related, self-efficacy, and well-being–related outcomes. Complementing the basic “off-the-shelf” wearable-based intervention with additional EMA questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and peer support groups did not appear to improve the effectiveness of the intervention. Future work is needed to investigate how different aspects of these interventions can be tailored to specific characteristics and needs of employees to optimize these effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-153b74c50e3645e8b94d32abdf9e02e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2291-5222 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR mHealth and uHealth |
| spelling | doaj-art-153b74c50e3645e8b94d32abdf9e02e22025-02-04T20:17:34ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR mHealth and uHealth2291-52222025-01-0113e60708e6070810.2196/60708The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design StudyHerman Jaap de Vrieshttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1196-5062Roos Delahaijhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6897-8716Marianne van Zwietenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2789-4820Helen Verhoefhttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-3121-071XWim Kamphuishttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8363-9277 Abstract BackgroundWearable sensor technologies, often referred to as “wearables,” have seen a rapid rise in consumer interest in recent years. Initially often seen as “activity trackers,” wearables have gradually expanded to also estimate sleep, stress, and physiological recovery. In occupational settings, there is a growing interest in applying this technology to promote health and well-being, especially in professions with highly demanding working conditions such as first responders. However, it is not clear to what extent self-monitoring with wearables can positively influence stress- and well-being–related outcomes in real-life conditions and how wearable-based interventions should be designed for high-risk professionals. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate (1) whether offering a 5-week wearable-based intervention improves stress- and well-being–related outcomes in police officers and (2) whether extending a basic “off-the-shelf” wearable-based intervention with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and peer support groups improves its effectiveness. MethodsA total of 95 police officers from 5 offices participated in the study. The data of 79 participants were included for analysis. During the first 5 weeks, participants used no self-monitoring technology (control period). During the following 5 weeks (intervention period), 41 participants used a Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch with a custom-built app (comparable to that of the consumer-available wearable), whereas the other 38 participants used the same system, but complemented by daily EMA questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and access to peer support groups. At baseline (T0) and after the control (T1) and intervention (T2) periods, questionnaires were administered to measure 15 outcomes relating to stress awareness, stress management self-efficacy, and outcomes related to stress and general well-being. Linear mixed models that accounted for repeated measures within subjects, the control and intervention periods, and between-group differences were used to address both research questions. ResultsThe results of the first analysis showed that the intervention had a small (absolute Hedges g ConclusionsOffering a 5-week wearable-based intervention to police officers can positively contribute to optimizing their stress-related, self-efficacy, and well-being–related outcomes. Complementing the basic “off-the-shelf” wearable-based intervention with additional EMA questionnaires, weekly personalized feedback reports, and peer support groups did not appear to improve the effectiveness of the intervention. Future work is needed to investigate how different aspects of these interventions can be tailored to specific characteristics and needs of employees to optimize these effects.https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e60708 |
| spellingShingle | Herman Jaap de Vries Roos Delahaij Marianne van Zwieten Helen Verhoef Wim Kamphuis The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study JMIR mHealth and uHealth |
| title | The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study |
| title_full | The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study |
| title_short | The Effects of Self-Monitoring Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone App on Stress Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being–Related Outcomes in Police Officers: Longitudinal Mixed Design Study |
| title_sort | effects of self monitoring using a smartwatch and smartphone app on stress awareness self efficacy and well being related outcomes in police officers longitudinal mixed design study |
| url | https://mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e60708 |
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