A new study recently published by USC outlines a method for using an Apple Watch to monitor the mental and physical well-being of members of the military.
Related:
- Apple’s AI-based odor sensor technology could transform future Apple Watch Health and Safety offerings
- Apple Watch readings help with Mental Health Care for postpartum depression
More specifically, the study was first conducted by the University of Southern California Center for Body Computing. Back in 2020, USC, in partnership with the Department of Defense, launched the study that investigated the use of common wearables to track the health of elite special operators.
Now, USC has published the results of one part of the study. Although it doesn’t contain information specifically about improvements in well-being, it does outline a system for accurately tracking key metrics.
“Digital Comprehensive Operator Readiness Assessment”
As the study notes, exposure to the type of “extreme and chronic stress” endured by special operations forces can lead to mental health issues, and even suicide. The original initiative dubbed these types of issues “red-line events.”
“Prolonged, frequent deployments may test coping skills over time, ultimately rendering Servicemembers vulnerable to mental health problems and suicide,” the authors wrote.
The first step in countering red-line events is to track holistic health measures. To that end, the team at USC and the Department of Defense set out to create a system that could accurately track key health metrics.
The system included “custom-built phone software and body-worn sensors.” In other words, an iPhone and an Apple Watch.
During the course of the study, the team gave the military servicemembers an Apple Watch and an iPhone with the custom software. Over the course of six months, the Apple devices tracked key health metrics and relayed them back to the soldiers and marines. Participants also answered regular questionnaires and assessments on a daily and weekly basis.
“Physiologic, psychologic, and cognitive assessment data … were collected, displayed to the individual, and analyzed in aggregate,” the team wrote.
Overall, the platform allowed the participants to track progress toward self-established goals, while also providing novel insights between the health metrics.
The results of the Apple Watch military study
As noted earlier, the team didn’t draw any conclusions about whether the platform could decrease red-line events. However, the results were still promising.
According to the researchers, the custom-built software elevated the Apple Watch “from a fitness tracker to a user-facing health monitoring, educational, and delivery system.”
Interestingly, the Apple Watch was able to pull key health measures as identified by a military program dubbed “Preservation of the Force and Family.” Essentially, it’s an initiative that is meant to “optimize and sustain” special operations forces. It tracks key metrics across domains like:
- Physical
- Psychological
- Cognitive
- Social & Family
- Spiritual
“This wearable system measured vital factors associated with the health and human performance of Servicemembers,” the team wrote. “In real-time, it engaged Servicemembers in health and human performance optimization practices to achieve a goal of prevention of physical or mental injury.”
The Apple Watch is already used for medical purposes in civilian settings. However, the research indicates that it could also be used in military applications. With many veterans vulnerable to a host of mental health issues, the Apple Watch could help some of them find relief.
