UT1000 Follow-Up Studies: Using Smart Technologies to Measure Multiple Health Variables

The team originally planned an extension of the UT1000 study to examine the relationship between biological indicators of stress, perception of stress, life events, and lifestyle in UT undergrads. This project addressed these challenges by developing and deploying environmental home beacons, wearable activity bands, and smartphone-based surveys. In addition, this study measured cortisol levels found along hair strands to discover connections between other health factors and chronic stress levels over time. By focusing on more “passive” methods aimed to measure variables such as sleep, activity, fluctuating mood and stress levels, and home/dorm environmental characteristics, we were able to collect many layers of health variables without requiring a variety of in-person visits between scientists and participants.  We are currently using this study to examine how Covid-19 is impacting stress, lifestyle and coping. 

Progress and Results: When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many of our plans for the study, we were able to pivot the study rapidly, deploy technology, and conduct virtual observations throughout summer 2020. Beyond the data that we’ve collected, this approach has given us insight into how to rapidly adapt methods to conduct “contactless” science, in which we collect information without face-to-face interaction.