Mobile and wearable sensors provide a unique opportunity to capture the daily activities and interactions that shape developmental trajectories, with potential to revolutionize the study of development (de Barbaro, 2019). However, developmental research employing sensors is still in its infancy, and parents' comfort using these devices is uncertain. This exploratory report assesses parent willingness to participate in sensor studies via a nationally representative survey (N=210) and live recruitment of a low-income, minority population for an ongoing study (N=359). The survey allowed us to assess how protocol design influences acceptability, including various options for devices and datastream resolution, conditions of data sharing, and feedback. By contrast, our recruitment data provided insight into parents' true willingness to participate in a sensor study, with a protocol including 72hrs of continuous audio, motion, and physiological data. Our results indicate that parents are relatively conservative when considering participation in sensing studies. However, nearly 41% of surveyed parents reported that they would be at least somewhat willing to participate in studies with audio or video recordings, 26% were willing or extremely willing, and 14% reported being extremely willing. These results roughly paralleled our recruitment results, where 58% of parents indicated interest, 29% of parents scheduled to participate, and 10% ultimately participated. Additionally, 70% of caregivers stated their reason for not participating in the study was due to barriers unrelated to sensing while about 25% noted barriers due to either privacy concerns or the physical sensors themselves. Parents' willingness to collect sensitive datastreams increased if data stayed within the household for individual use only, are shared anonymously with researchers, or if parents receive feedback from devices. Overall, our findings suggest that given the correct SENSING EVERYDAY ACTIVITY: PARENT PERCEPTIONS AND FEASIBILITY 3 circumstances, mobile sensors are a feasible and promising tool for characterizing children's daily interactions and their role in development.

Studies of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health symptoms suggest that there may be a unique impact of COVID-19 on minoritized individuals, young children (children five and younger), and their caregivers. Longitudinal studies with representative samples including minoritized populations are needed to accurately reflect the experience of families during COVID-19. The current study used a longitudinal design to assess trajectories of mental health among Latinx female caregivers and their young children over time, beginning prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and over the course of 12 months. In fall of 2019, Latinx female caregivers (N = 213; 93.0% biological mother) of young children (M age = 5.38, SD = 0.34) reported on their own and their child's (52.6% female) mental health symptoms, as well as parenting stress, at three time points through Fall of 2020. Growth curve models showed that self-report of caregiver global mental health worsened over time, though caregiver depression and parenting stress did not change significantly, nor did caregiver-report of their children's mental health. Results suggest that while female caregiver well-being was adversely affected by COVID-19, caregivers showed resilience in the face of this pandemic, which in turn may have buffered the impact of the pandemic on Latinx child mental health. Methodological and contextual implications of these results are considered.

Mobile and wearable sensors provide a unique opportunity to capture the daily activities and interactions that shape developmental trajectories, with potential to revolutionize the study of development (de Barbaro, 2019). However, developmental research employing sensors is still in its infancy, and parents’ comfort using these devices is uncertain. This report assesses parent willingness to participate in sensor studies via a nationally representative survey (N=210) and live recruitment of a low-income, diverse population for an ongoing study (N=362). The survey allows us to assess how protocol design influences acceptability, including various options for devices and datastream resolution, conditions of data sharing, and feedback. By contrast, our recruitment data provides insight into parents’ true willingness to participate in a sensor study, with a protocol including 72hrs of continuous audio and physical activity recordings, and relatively “middle of the road” privacy and sharing options. Our results indicate that parents are relatively conservative when considering participation in sensing studies. However, nearly 40% of surveyed parents report that they would be at least somewhat willing to participate in studies with audio or video recordings, and 14% reported being extremely willing. These results roughly paralleled our recruitment results, where 47.5% of parents indicated interest and 18% of parents ultimately scheduled. Parents’ willingness to collect sensitive datastreams increases if data stay within the household, are shared anonymously with researchers, or if parents receive feedback from devices. Overall, our findings suggest that given the correct circumstances, mobile sensors are a feasible and promising tool for characterizing children’s daily interactions and their role in development.

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