INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Nemesis Research Team, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2021 May;75(5):477-483. doi: 10.1136/jech-2020-214274. Epub 2020 Nov 4.
Urban stress is mentioned as a plausible mechanism leading to chronic stress, which is a risk factor of depression. Yet, an accurate assessment of urban stressors in environmental epidemiology requires new methods. This article discusses methods for the sensor-based continuous assesment of geographic environments, stress and depressive symptoms in older age. We report protocols of the promoting mental well-being and healthy ageing in cities (MINDMAP) and Healthy Aging and Networks in Cities (HANC) studies nested in the RECORD Cohort as a background for a broad discussion about the theoretical foundation and monitoring tools of mobile sensing research in older age. Specifically, these studies allow one to compare how older people with and without depression perceive, navigate and use their environment; and how the built environments, networks of social contacts, and spatial mobility patterns influence the mental health of older people.
Our research protocol combines (1) Global Positioning System (GPS) and accelerometer tracking and a GPS-based mobility survey to assess participants' mobility patterns, activity patterns and environmental exposures; (2) proximity detection to assess whether household members are close to each other; (3) ecological momentary assessment to track momentary mood and stress and environmental perceptions; and (4) electrodermal activity for the tentative prediction of stress. Data will be compared within individuals (at different times) and between persons with and without depressive symptoms.
The development of mobile sensing and survey technologies opens an avenue to improve understanding of the role of momentary stressors and resourcing features of residential and non-residential environments for older populations' mental health. However, validation, privacy and ethical aspects are important issues to consider.
城市压力被认为是导致慢性压力的一种合理机制，而慢性压力是抑郁的一个风险因素。然而，环境流行病学中城市压力源的准确评估需要新的方法。本文讨论了基于传感器的连续评估老年人群地理环境、压力和抑郁症状的方法。我们报告了促进城市心理健康和老龄化（MINDMAP）和城市健康老龄化和网络（HANC）研究的方案，这些研究嵌套在 RECORD 队列中，为移动感应研究的理论基础和监测工具在老年人群中的广泛讨论提供了背景。具体来说，这些研究可以比较有和没有抑郁的老年人如何感知、导航和使用他们的环境；以及建筑环境、社会联系网络和空间流动性模式如何影响老年人的心理健康。
我们的研究方案结合了（1）全球定位系统（GPS）和加速度计跟踪以及基于 GPS 的移动性调查，以评估参与者的移动模式、活动模式和环境暴露；（2）接近度检测，以评估家庭成员是否彼此接近；（3）生态瞬时评估，以跟踪瞬间情绪和压力以及环境感知；（4）皮肤电活动，以试探性地预测压力。数据将在个体内部（在不同时间）和有和没有抑郁症状的个体之间进行比较。
移动感应和调查技术的发展为改善对老年人心理的瞬时压力源和居住及非居住环境资源特征的作用的理解开辟了一条途径。然而，验证、隐私和伦理问题是需要考虑的重要问题。
