A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont has found that changes in perceived stress levels can be detected in sleep data, making it possible to identify biomarkers that may help flag individuals in need of support. The research, published in PLOS Digital Health, analyzed baseline sleep data and found consistent associations between perceived stress scores and factors such as total sleep time, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate. The study also revealed that for every additional hour of sleep recorded, the odds of someone reporting moderate-to-high stress decreased by 38 percent.
The study is part of the Lived Experience Measured Using Rings Study (LEMURS), which tracks first- and second-year college students using wearable Oura ring biosensors and surveys about their wellbeing. The research team found that data gathered from wearables can reveal changes in people’s mental health status, potentially allowing for real-time identification of increased stress and the opportunity for timely interventions. Data collected from the Oura ring was predictive of participants’ perceived stress levels, highlighting the connection between sleep measures and mental health measures.
The LEMURS project was conceived to use wearable technologies to improve young people’s health and well-being, with personalized health feedback. Participants wear Oura rings that collect measurements such as temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and sleep duration, along with completing routine surveys to provide more subjective responses about potential stressors and emotions. The research team, consisting of mathematicians and statisticians, analyze the data to identify biometric signals that can address changes in physical and mental health, with the goal of understanding which interventions work best and are scalable for large populations.
The study also found that changes in sleep patterns could be indicative of mental health issues, with distinct heart rate curves detected in LEMURS participants who reported impairment in daily life due to anxiety or depression. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health problems for young adults, with a significant portion of high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness. The high burden of stress in this population underscores the need for better and more accessible support systems for young adults, especially during times of transition and increased stressors, such as college.
The research team at UVM involved in the study includes researchers from various disciplines working together to detect and incentivize positive changes in physical and mental health using wearable technologies. The study is funded by a grant from MassMutual and aims to provide insights into the relationship between sleep data, stress levels, and mental health, with the goal of supporting individuals in times of decreased mental or physical health status. By combining data from wearable devices, surveys, and other sources, researchers hope to gain a more comprehensive understanding of factors influencing young adults’ health and well-being.
Overall, the study highlights the potential of wearable devices in detecting changes in stress levels and providing valuable insights into mental health status. By leveraging biometric data collected through wearable technologies, researchers can identify individuals in need of support and offer timely interventions to improve their overall health and well-being. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding the connection between sleep, stress, and mental health in young adults, with the ultimate goal of developing effective and accessible support systems to address the high burden of stress in this population.
