Examining the relationship between smart wearable technologies providing instant health monitoring and user's health anxiety and body perception

Wearable technology, particularly smartwatches, has become increasingly popular for health monitoring and fitness tracking. In recent years, wearable devices have advanced significantly and gained growing attention in the field of mental health (Juchems, 2022). However, limited research has been conducted on the psychosocial effects of these devices. This study investigates the psychosocial effects of wearable smartwatches on body image perception and health anxiety. The research aims to explore the relationship between the use of wearable technologies, such as smartwatches with real-time health tracking features, and both health anxiety levels and body image. The study focuses on two main questions: (1) Is there a relationship between the use of real-time health-tracking smartwatches and health anxiety levels? (2) Is there a relationship between the use of real-time health-tracking smartwatches and body image? The research was conducted using a convenience sampling method, reaching participants aged 18-40 online. Data were collected through an Informed Consent Form, a Demographic Information Form (including age, gender, education level, health anxiety diagnosis, general anxiety diagnosis, and frequency of smartwatch/band use), the Health Anxiety Inventory, and the Body Appreciation Scale-2. Individuals with chronic illnesses, those outside the specified age range, or those lacking literacy skills were excluded from the study.The sample consisted of 248 volunteers, of whom 35.43% were women (88 participants), 62.09% were men (154 participants), 5 participants preferred not to specify their gender, and 1 participant identified as non-binary. The average age of the participants was 31.6 years (SD = 5.45). The findings revealed a positive correlation (p < .001) between smartwatch usage frequency and health anxiety, while no significant relationship was found with body image. However, it should be noted that the data does not provide clear information about the causality of this relationship. While frequent monitoring of health data may contribute to increased anxiety, it is equally plausible that individuals with higher health anxiety are more inclined to monitor their data frequently. Furthermore, the weak association with body image suggests that this variable may be shaped by other factors, such as cultural and social influences. This study provides a valuable foundation for future research aimed at understanding the psychological impact of these devices on users' well-being and promoting more mindful use of smartwatches.