Lived Experiences Measured Using Rings Study (LEMURS)
Exploring health interventions through a partnership with Oura ring technology, studying the wellness behaviors of University of Vermont students.
Study Overview
At the start of Fall 2022, the Lived Experiences Measured Using Rings Study (LEMURS) recruited a cohort of more than 600 first-year students at the University of Vermont to take part in a longitudinal experiment incentivizing healthy behaviors. During the Fall of 2022, we assessed changes in students' sleep, stress, mental health, and other outcomes through a series of weekly surveys. We also monitored heart-rate (HR), sleep, and activity continuously in this cohort using Oura rings.
Today, the project is in its fourth year, with Over 1,250 days (and nights) of data during the first 3 (soon to be 4) years of college. The LEMURS team has published over 15 peer reviewed publications and conference proceedings.
Research Findings
Using over 10 million heart-rate and activity measurements over a 6-month period, we've begun to identify intriguing patterns in the survey and Oura ring data that advance our understanding of relationships between well-being, health, cardiac activity, and sleep.
College students are at high-risk for mental-health related challenges—determining which objective markers from a popular consumer wearable are associated with stress and anxiety provides opportunities to identify specifically who is at risk, and intervene at scale in real time.
Contact & Resources
Please contact lemurs.study@uvm.edu if you have questions.