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

Author

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  • Doherty, Sean T.
  • Lemieux, Christopher J.
  • Canally, Culum

Abstract

A growing range of studies have begun to document the health and well-being benefits associated with contact with nature. Most studies rely on generalized self-reports following engagement in the natural environment. The actual in-situ experience during contact with nature, and the environmental features and factors that evoke health benefits have remained relatively unexplored. Smartphones offer a new opportunity to monitor and interact with human subjects during everyday life using techniques such as Experience Sampling Methods (ESM) that involve repeated self-reports of experiences as they occur in-situ. Additionally, embedded sensors in smartphones such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and accelerometers can accurately trace human activities. This paper explores how these techniques can be combined to comprehensively explore the perceived health and well-being impacts of contact with nature. Custom software was developed to passively track GPS and accelerometer data, and actively prompt subjects to complete an ESM survey at regular intervals throughout their visit to a provincial park in Ontario, Canada. The ESM survey includes nine scale questions concerning moods and emotions, followed by a series of open-ended experiential questions that subjects provide recorded audio responses to. Pilot test results are used to illustrate the nature, quantity and quality of data obtained. Participant activities were clearly evident from GPS maps, including especially walking, cycling and sedate activities. From the ESM surveys, participants reported an average of 25 words per question, taking an average of 15 s to record them. Further qualitative analysis revealed that participants were willing to provide considerable insights into their experiences and perceived health impacts. The combination of passive and interactive techniques is sure to make larger studies of this type more affordable and less burdensome in the future, further enhancing the ability to understand how contact with nature enhances health and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Doherty, Sean T. & Lemieux, Christopher J. & Canally, Culum, 2014. "Tracking human activity and well-being in natural environments using wearable sensors and experience sampling," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 83-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:106:y:2014:i:c:p:83-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.01.048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Clark & Sean Doherty, 2010. "A multi-instrumented approach to observing the activity rescheduling decision process," Transportation, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 165-181, January.
    2. Lembke B., 1918. "√ a. p," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 111(1), pages 709-712, February.
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    2. Hideaki Sakawa & Fumio Ohtake & Yoshiro Tsutsui, 2015. "Activity, Time, and Subjective Happiness: An analysis Based on an Hourly Web survey," ISER Discussion Paper 0926, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    3. Rachel R. Y. Oh & Kelly S. Fielding & Chia-Chen Chang & Le T. P. Nghiem & Claudia L. Y. Tan & Shimona A. Quazi & Danielle F. Shanahan & Kevin J. Gaston & Roman L. Carrasco & Richard A. Fuller, 2021. "Health and Wellbeing Benefits from Nature Experiences in Tropical Settings Depend on Strength of Connection to Nature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Isabel Holland & Nicole V. DeVille & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Ryan M. Buehler & Jaime E. Hart & J. Aaron Hipp & Richard Mitchell & Donald A. Rakow & Jessica E. Schiff & Mathew P. White & Jie Yin & , 2021. "Measuring Nature Contact: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Andrews, Gavin J. & Duff, Cameron, 2020. "‘Whole onflow’, the productive event: an articulation through health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    6. Femke Beute & Yvonne De Kort & Wijnand IJsselsteijn, 2016. "Restoration in Its Natural Context: How Ecological Momentary Assessment Can Advance Restoration Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, April.
    7. Lianne P. Vries & Bart M. L. Baselmans & Meike Bartels, 2021. "Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment of Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Studies," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2361-2408, June.
    8. Marina Bravi & Marta Bottero & Federico Dell’Anna, 2024. "An Application of the Life Satisfaction Approach (LSA) to Value the Land Consumption and Ecosystem Services," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 2988-3013, March.
    9. Gamze Dane & Aloys Borgers & Tao Feng, 2019. "Subjective Immediate Experiences during Large-Scale Cultural Events in Cities: A Geotagging Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    10. Pachucki, Mark C. & Ozer, Emily J. & Barrat, Alain & Cattuto, Ciro, 2015. "Mental health and social networks in early adolescence: A dynamic study of objectively-measured social interaction behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 40-50.
    11. Shearer, Cindy & Rainham, Daniel & Blanchard, Chris & Dummer, Trevor & Lyons, Renee & Kirk, Sara, 2015. "Measuring food availability and accessibility among adolescents: Moving beyond the neighbourhood boundary," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 322-330.
    12. Michelle C. Kondo & Kehinde O. Oyekanmi & Allison Gibson & Eugenia C. South & Jason Bocarro & J. Aaron Hipp, 2020. "Nature Prescriptions for Health: A Review of Evidence and Research Opportunities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.

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