Abstract
Background: Older adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) struggle with emotion regulation and heightened arousal that disrupts daily functioning. Wearables, such as a finger sensor measuring electrodermal activity, may enhance arousal monitoring and support regulation strategies.
Research questions: What are the expectations and experiences of using a wearable sensor during arousal interventions in three individuals with BPD symptoms?
Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study, three clients participated over 28 days, including a five-day baseline period, using an alternating-treatment ABAB design with feedback and non-feedback phases. Participants wore a sensor, practiced daily relaxation exercises, and completed self-assessment questionnaires before each exercise to measure mood. Arousal levels were measured before, during, and after exercises. Randomization tests analyzed individual changes. Correlations were assessed between subjective (questionnaire) and objective (sensor) stress measures and between stress levels and study days. In-depth interviews before and after participation captured expectations and experiences.
Results: Participants consistently used the sensor despite technical issues such as connectivity and lack of water resistance. All three found it suitable for monitoring emotion regulation challenges but emphasized the need for therapeutic guidance. No significant results were found regarding the effectiveness of the moodmetric® ring.
Conclusion: This exploratory home-setting study shows that wearable technology could benefit older adults with BPD in aiding emotion regulation, especially when therapeutic guidance effectively integrates insights gleaned from the device. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring, ecological momentary interventions, and therapist involvement to optimize the effectiveness of stress management with wearable technology.
Research questions: What are the expectations and experiences of using a wearable sensor during arousal interventions in three individuals with BPD symptoms?
Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study, three clients participated over 28 days, including a five-day baseline period, using an alternating-treatment ABAB design with feedback and non-feedback phases. Participants wore a sensor, practiced daily relaxation exercises, and completed self-assessment questionnaires before each exercise to measure mood. Arousal levels were measured before, during, and after exercises. Randomization tests analyzed individual changes. Correlations were assessed between subjective (questionnaire) and objective (sensor) stress measures and between stress levels and study days. In-depth interviews before and after participation captured expectations and experiences.
Results: Participants consistently used the sensor despite technical issues such as connectivity and lack of water resistance. All three found it suitable for monitoring emotion regulation challenges but emphasized the need for therapeutic guidance. No significant results were found regarding the effectiveness of the moodmetric® ring.
Conclusion: This exploratory home-setting study shows that wearable technology could benefit older adults with BPD in aiding emotion regulation, especially when therapeutic guidance effectively integrates insights gleaned from the device. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring, ecological momentary interventions, and therapist involvement to optimize the effectiveness of stress management with wearable technology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-21 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Gerontechnology |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
Keywords
- older adults
- borderline personality disorder
- electrodermal activity
- emotion regulation
- single-case experimental design