Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study

Abstract BackgroundInsufficient sleep is a problem affecting millions. Poor sleep can trigger or worsen anxiety; conversely, anxiety can lead to or exacerbate poor sleep. Advances in innovative consumer products designed to promote relaxation and support healthy sleep are emer...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sharon Danoff-Burg, Elie Gottlieb, Morgan A Weaver, Kiara C Carmon, Duvia Lara Ledesma, Holly M Rus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-01-01
Series:JMIR Formative Research
Online Access:https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58461
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841546512930177024
author Sharon Danoff-Burg
Elie Gottlieb
Morgan A Weaver
Kiara C Carmon
Duvia Lara Ledesma
Holly M Rus
author_facet Sharon Danoff-Burg
Elie Gottlieb
Morgan A Weaver
Kiara C Carmon
Duvia Lara Ledesma
Holly M Rus
author_sort Sharon Danoff-Burg
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundInsufficient sleep is a problem affecting millions. Poor sleep can trigger or worsen anxiety; conversely, anxiety can lead to or exacerbate poor sleep. Advances in innovative consumer products designed to promote relaxation and support healthy sleep are emerging, and their effectiveness can be evaluated accurately using sleep measurement technologies in the home environment. ObjectiveThis pilot study examined the effects of smart goggles used at bedtime to deliver gentle, slow vibration to the eyes and temples. The study hypothesized that objective sleep, perceived sleep, self-reported stress, anxiety, relaxation, and sleepiness would improve after using the smart goggles. MethodsA within-participants, pre-post study design was implemented. Healthy adults with subclinical threshold sleep problems (N=20) tracked their sleep nightly using a polysomnography-validated noncontact biomotion device and completed daily questionnaires over two phases: a 3-week baseline period and a 3-week intervention period. During the baseline period, participants followed their usual sleep routines at home. During the intervention period, participants used Therabody SmartGoggles in “Sleep” mode at bedtime. This mode, designed for relaxation, delivers a gentle eye and temple massage through the inflation of internal compartments to create a kneading sensation combined with vibrating motors. Each night, the participants completed questionnaires assessing relaxation, stress, anxiety, and sleepiness immediately before and after using the goggles. Daily morning questionnaires assessed perceived sleep, complementing the objective sleep data measured every night. ResultsMultilevel regression analysis of 676 nights of objective sleep parameters showed improvements during nights when the goggles were used compared to the baseline period. Key findings include sleep duration (increased by 12 minutes, PPPPPPPP<P<PP ConclusionsThe use of smart goggles at bedtime significantly improved objectively measured sleep metrics and perceived sleep quality. Further, participants reported increased feelings of relaxation along with reduced stress and anxiety. Future research expanding on this pilot study is warranted to confirm and expand on the preliminary evidence presented in this brief report.
format Article
id doaj-art-6f7bb02ef9e14e01b290ce2c4dde6827
institution Kabale University
issn 2561-326X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher JMIR Publications
record_format Article
series JMIR Formative Research
spelling doaj-art-6f7bb02ef9e14e01b290ce2c4dde68272025-01-10T17:30:49ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2025-01-019e58461e5846110.2196/58461Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot StudySharon Danoff-Burghttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-9156-4204Elie Gottliebhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-0707Morgan A Weaverhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-3170-3860Kiara C Carmonhttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-8819-9580Duvia Lara Ledesmahttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-2917-7800Holly M Rushttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2072-2313 Abstract BackgroundInsufficient sleep is a problem affecting millions. Poor sleep can trigger or worsen anxiety; conversely, anxiety can lead to or exacerbate poor sleep. Advances in innovative consumer products designed to promote relaxation and support healthy sleep are emerging, and their effectiveness can be evaluated accurately using sleep measurement technologies in the home environment. ObjectiveThis pilot study examined the effects of smart goggles used at bedtime to deliver gentle, slow vibration to the eyes and temples. The study hypothesized that objective sleep, perceived sleep, self-reported stress, anxiety, relaxation, and sleepiness would improve after using the smart goggles. MethodsA within-participants, pre-post study design was implemented. Healthy adults with subclinical threshold sleep problems (N=20) tracked their sleep nightly using a polysomnography-validated noncontact biomotion device and completed daily questionnaires over two phases: a 3-week baseline period and a 3-week intervention period. During the baseline period, participants followed their usual sleep routines at home. During the intervention period, participants used Therabody SmartGoggles in “Sleep” mode at bedtime. This mode, designed for relaxation, delivers a gentle eye and temple massage through the inflation of internal compartments to create a kneading sensation combined with vibrating motors. Each night, the participants completed questionnaires assessing relaxation, stress, anxiety, and sleepiness immediately before and after using the goggles. Daily morning questionnaires assessed perceived sleep, complementing the objective sleep data measured every night. ResultsMultilevel regression analysis of 676 nights of objective sleep parameters showed improvements during nights when the goggles were used compared to the baseline period. Key findings include sleep duration (increased by 12 minutes, PPPPPPPP<P<PP ConclusionsThe use of smart goggles at bedtime significantly improved objectively measured sleep metrics and perceived sleep quality. Further, participants reported increased feelings of relaxation along with reduced stress and anxiety. Future research expanding on this pilot study is warranted to confirm and expand on the preliminary evidence presented in this brief report.https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58461
spellingShingle Sharon Danoff-Burg
Elie Gottlieb
Morgan A Weaver
Kiara C Carmon
Duvia Lara Ledesma
Holly M Rus
Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
JMIR Formative Research
title Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
title_full Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
title_fullStr Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
title_short Effects of Smart Goggles Used at Bedtime on Objectively Measured Sleep and Self-Reported Anxiety, Stress, and Relaxation: Pre-Post Pilot Study
title_sort effects of smart goggles used at bedtime on objectively measured sleep and self reported anxiety stress and relaxation pre post pilot study
url https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58461
work_keys_str_mv AT sharondanoffburg effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy
AT eliegottlieb effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy
AT morganaweaver effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy
AT kiaraccarmon effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy
AT duvialaraledesma effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy
AT hollymrus effectsofsmartgogglesusedatbedtimeonobjectivelymeasuredsleepandselfreportedanxietystressandrelaxationprepostpilotstudy