Patterns of Ownership and Usage of Wearable Devices in the United States, 2020-2022: Survey Study

Background: Although wearable technology has become increasingly common, comprehensive studies examining its ownership across different sociodemographic groups are limited.

Objective: The aims of this study were 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: Data from the Rock Health Digital Health Consumer Adoption Survey collected from 2020 to 2022 with 23,974 US participants were analyzed. The sample was US Census-matched for demographics, including age, race/ethnicity, gender, and income. The relationship between sociodemographic factors and wearable ownership was explored using descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression.

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. Compared to those aged 18-24 years, respondents 65 years and older had significantly lower odds of wearable ownership (odds ratio [OR] 0.18, 95% CI 0.16-0.21). Higher annual income (≥US $200,000; OR 2.27, 95% CI 2.01-2.57) and advanced degrees (OR 2.23, 95% CI 2.01-2.48) were strong predictors of ownership. Living in rural areas reduced ownership odds (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.60-0.72). There was a notable difference in ownership based on gender and health insurance status. Women had slightly higher ownership odds than men (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17). Private insurance increased ownership odds (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17-1.40), whereas being uninsured (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.36-0.47) or on Medicaid (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.82) decreased the odds of ownership. Interestingly, minority groups such as non-Hispanic Black (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and Hispanic/Latine (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10-1.31) respondents showed slightly higher ownership odds than other racial/ethnic groups.

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