Advancing Measurement of Correctional Officer Health and Wellness: A Pilot Study of Wearable Biometric Sensor Devices

Correctional work is associated with high levels of stress and poor sleep quality. Although previous research has primarily relied on correctional officers’ perceptions of these outcomes, biometric indicators can provide more objective and continuous information. Using daily data points collected from smartwatches worn by 15 prison staff over a six-week period with a single-subject ABA research design involving two control phases and a mindfulness activity phase, this pilot study establishes a proof of concept for using wearable biometric sensor devices to study correctional staff health and well-being. By applying longitudinal mixed effects regression models with a GAMLSS framework, this study finds that biometric measures are sensitive to change, such that stress was reduced and sleep quality improved among participants during the mindfulness activity phase. Participating staff complied with and felt positively about the research protocols. Several important lessons for advancing measurement in future correctional health and wellness research are discussed.