Smartphone tilt as a measure of well-being? Evidence from two experience sampling studies (Preprint)

Abstract

Smartphone usage is increasing around the globe. Smartphones offer considerable opportunities to researchers implementing experience sampling designs. Besides convenient gathering of self-report data, the availability of objective sensor data promises advantages for data collection.

Previous research has shown the relation between body posture and well-being as well as an association between smartphone sensor data and posture. We investigated the association of the smartphone’s objective tilt measure with self-reported well-being in the field.

Two experience sampling studies with 98 and 261 participants were conducted. They included self-reported measures of well-being and objective sensor gathered at the same points in time. The sample included Android and iOS smartphones.

Results of Study 1 show a within-person association between deviation from the usual tilt and well-being, t(3392)=-3.9, p<.001, d=.13. In Study 2 this association was only shown for Android users, t(3389)=-2.20, p=.03, d=.08, but not for iOS users. Comparison of the groups did reveal differences in the distribution of the sensor measured tilt.

An association between subjective well-being and smartphone sensor data was shown, but not consistently across devices and studies. Possible explanations for the differing results by smartphone platform include heterogeneity of the hardware implemented and differences in the software sensor values. Advice on precautions to consider when implementing app studies on differing devices and platforms in the wild are given. Implications for future studies, including objective validation of sensor data, are also discussed.