SQoF-WEAR Project. The Use of Wearable Devices to Identify the Impact of Stress on Workers’ Quality of Life

Abstract

(1) Background: Stress is a major public health problem due to its relevant health, social and economic repercussions. Moreover, stress can be associated with work; when stress increases over time, burnout can occur, an occupational phenomenon recognized by the WHO in 2019. There is interest in the use of wearable devices to monitor and control stressors and their influence on the condition of workers. This study aims to identify the level of job stress and its influence on the quality of life of workers. (2) Methods:This longitudinal study was carried out between the end of May and mid-July 2021. Three assessment tools along with a daily and a weekly questionnaire were computerized through the RedCap platform. The participants had to fill out the diary and weekly questionnaires and wear a Xiaomi Mi Band 5 during the project. (3) Results and discussion: Thirty-six workers from the University of Coruña and from the University of Porto participated in the project. This study promotes the awareness of workers regarding their work stress and the influence of this factor on their quality of life using physiological (e.g., activity, sleep, and heart rate) and psychological indicators (self-report questionnaires in different moments).

Comparison of Subjective and Physiological Stress Levels in Home and Office Work Environments

“…61.9% of participants recorded that their stress had been increased by some level, from "somewhat" to "a lot", due to COVID-19 and the resulting situation. Approximately 68% of participants attended the workplace in person and 27.6% felt frustrated and 22.4% felt exhausted, both being stressors [82]. One limitation of this study is that the self-reporting of subjective stress and physiological state by participants is often subject to bias [13,31].…”