JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Wearable technology has become increasingly common, but comprehensive studies examining its adoption across different sociodemographic groups are limited.

Objective:

The study aims to (1) measure wearable device ownership by sociodemographic characteristics in a cohort of US consumers, and (2) investigate how these devices are acquired and used for health-related purposes.

Methods:

The study analyzed data from the Rock Health Digital Health Consumer Adoption Survey, conducted from 2020 to 2022 with 23,974 US participants. The sample was US Census-matched on demographics, including age, race, gender, and income. Methods included descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression to explore the relationship between sociodemographic factors and wearable ownership.

Results:

Of the 23,974 respondents, 10,679 (44.5%) owned wearables. Ownership was higher among younger individuals, those with higher incomes and education levels, and respondents living in urban areas. There was a notable difference in ownership based on gender and health insurance status. Interestingly, minority groups such as non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latine respondents showed slightly higher ownership rates.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that, despite overall growth in adoption, sociodemographic divides persist. The data indicate a need for equitable access strategies as wearables become integral to clinical and public health domains.