Using nearly 250,000 hours of data, NEC and the MIT Media Lab are conducting ongoing research to better understand chronic stress in working adults.

MIT Media Lab Member organization, NEC Corporation, working with the Affective Computing group at the Media Lab, is undertaking a large-scale research effort to explore new ways to objectively and quantitatively assess chronic stress in working individuals. Drawing on nearly 250,000 hours of real-world data, this early-stage research project is examining how physiological signals collected through wearable sensors may relate to longer-term stress patterns, with the goal of informing future approaches to stress prevention and workplace wellbeing.

Mental health remains a global challenge for employers and employees alike. Beyond absenteeism, presenteeism—being at work but performing below capacity—can quietly erode productivity and wellbeing. Chronic stress is a key contributor, yet it often goes unnoticed and has traditionally been assessed through infrequent, self-reported surveys. NEC and the Media Lab are investigating whether wearable technology can help bridge this gap.

As part of the study, participants wear wrist-mounted sensors that continuously measure electrodermal activity (EDA), a physiological signal associated with sweating and sympathetic nervous system activity. These data are being examined alongside periodic self-reported stress assessments using established survey instruments. The study includes data from employees at Japanese companies and spans both working and non-working hours, resulting in one of the largest longitudinal datasets assembled to date for this type of research.

The project remains ongoing, and analysis is continuing. A research paper describing the methodology and study design is expected to be submitted for peer review in the very near future. 

Together, this work reflects a broader effort by NEC and the MIT Media Lab to explore how data-driven approaches and wearable technologies may contribute to improved understanding, prevention, and support for stress-related challenges in the workplace.