If you’ve ever checked your smartwatch to see how stressed you are, you’re part of a growing group of people—and scientists—turning to wearable tech for insights about the body and mind. From smart rings to VR headsets, wearables are everywhere. But for researchers, a big question remains: which of these devices produces accurate, reliable data? And are they right for the experiment I have in mind?
That’s the challenge that Myrte Schoenmakers*, Melisa Saygin*, Magdalena Sikora*, Thomas Vaessen, Matthijs Noordzij, and Eco de Geus (*pictured below) set out to solve as part of the Stress in Action research program. Their tool, the Stress in Action Wearables Database (SiA-WD), offers the first open, systematic catalog of wearable devices that includes both technical specifications and scientific validation data. Their work is published in the Psychonomic Society journal, Behavior Research Methods.
Why researchers need this database
Wearable sensors have become indispensable across psychology, medicine, and movement science. But finding a device that’s valid, reliable, and user-friendly enough for real-world studies is a major headache. Manufacturer documentation is often incomplete, independent validation studies are scarce, and usability (how comfortable and practical a device is) is rarely tested.
The SiA-WD was designed to fill that gap by providing an evidence-based way to compare devices side by side.
What’s in the SiA-WD?
The SiA-WD, as shown in the figure below, currently includes 54 devices, each described by features, and drawn from an initial review of 172 candidates. For each device, you’ll find:
- General details: including manufacturer, release year, and price
- Physiological signals: including heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, posture, noise level, sleep duration and quality, motion, electrocardiography, respiration, photoplethysmography, and electrodermal activity
- Technical specifications: sampling frequency and data resolution
- Data access options: whether raw data or summary metrics are available
- Reliability, validity, and usability evidence: pulled together from literature searches
The database is hosted on the Open Science Framework, freely downloadable, and searchable—saving researchers weeks or even months of background work.
How the database helps
The authors showed how to use the SiA-WD by using two realistic research examples:
Case A: Short-term stress monitoring (2 days). Researchers needed lightweight, high-resolution devices that minimize participant burden. The SiA-WD identified compact wearables with known sampling precision and easy setup.
Case B: Long-term stress monitoring (3 days). For longer tracking, the team focused on battery life, storage capacity, and participant comfort. Again, the SiA-WD made it possible to pinpoint devices with strong evidence of long-term usability.
In both cases, the database narrowed down the selection to a few well-matched, evidence-based options.
While developing the SiA-WD, the authors noted several issues in the wearable research landscape. First, user-friendliness or comfort, which is critical for long-term use (like in Case B), is understudied. Next, validity reporting is inconsistent across studies. Finally, the manufacturers’ specs are often vague, with sampling rates and signal processing details frequently unclear or missing. These findings point to the need for greater transparency and standardization in wearable research.
Looking ahead
The SiA-WD will be updated every six months as part of the Stress in Action 10-year research program. Future versions will expand the database, refine usability measures, and continue improving the rigor of wearable science.
When the authors were asked to sum up their work briefly, they said
“The Stress in Action Wearables Database facilitates rapid and systematic wearable selection for stress research.”
Whether you study stress, health, or movement, the SiA-WD can save you time, money, and frustration, allowing you to focus on what really matters: understanding human physiology in action.
Featured Psychonomic Society article
Myrte Schoenmakers, Melisa Saygin, Magdalena Sikora, Thomas Vaessen, Matthijs Noordzij & Eco de Geus (2025). Stress in action wearables database: A database of noninvasive wearable monitors with systematic technical, reliability, validity, and usability information. Behavior Research Method, 57, 171. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-025-02685-4
