Tracking human activity and well-being in natural environments using wearable sensors and experience sampling

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Existing research on nature contact and well-being often relies on generalized self-reports.
• The in-situ experience and specific environmental factors influencing health benefits remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of smartphone-based Experience Sampling Methods (ESM) combined with sensor data for studying nature contact.
• To comprehensively investigate the perceived health and well-being impacts of in-situ nature experiences.

Main Methods:

• Developed custom software for passive tracking of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and accelerometer data.
• Actively prompted participants with ESM surveys (moods, emotions, audio responses) during park visits.
• Utilized pilot test data to assess data quality and participant engagement.

Main Results:

• GPS and accelerometer data clearly identified participant activities (walking, cycling, etc.).
• ESM surveys yielded rich qualitative data, with participants providing detailed audio responses.
• Participants were willing to share insights into their experiences and perceived health impacts.

Conclusions:

• Combining passive sensing with interactive ESM surveys offers a feasible and less burdensome method for studying nature contact.
• This integrated approach enhances the ability to understand how nature contact promotes health and well-being.
• Future large-scale studies can leverage these techniques for deeper insights.