Exploring the Psychological and Physiological Insights Through Digital Phenotyping by Analyzing the Discrepancies Between Subjective Insomnia Severity and Activity-Based Objective Sleep Measures: Observational Cohort Study

This study examines the mismatch between how people perceive their insomnia and objective sleep data from wearable devices. Researchers tracked 250 adults using Fitbit and smartphone apps to assess sleep patterns, stress, and lifestyle habits. Surprisingly, those who reported severe insomnia showed no major differences in total sleep time or structure compared to others. However, higher stress, negative sleep beliefs, and restless legs syndrome were linked to worse insomnia perceptions. The findings suggest that psychological factors, not just sleep quality, shape how people experience insomnia. This highlights the need for personalized treatments that address mental health and lifestyle factors, not just sleep itself.

To support brain health, focus on stress management, cognitive reframing of sleep beliefs, and healthy circadian rhythms. Practices like mindfulness, reducing smartphone use before bed, and consistent wake times may help. However, as this study primarily identifies correlations, it cannot confirm causation. Additionally, wearable device accuracy has limitations. Lifestyle changes should be combined with clinical advice for those with severe sleep concerns.