Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between smartwatch use and sleep quality among adults in Saudi Arabia using the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS).
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey (August 2024, February 2025) was conducted with 1,164 Saudi adults aged ≥18 years. The data included sociodemographic factors, health and lifestyle characteristics, smart watch usage patterns, and sleep quality, which were assessed using the validated SQS. Independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate linear regression analyses were used.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 26 ± 8.8 years, and 53% were female. Overall, 48% of the participants reported using smartwatches. Smartwatch users had lower mean SQS scores than non-users (41.8 ± 13.4 vs. 44.0 ± 14.4; p = 0.014) and a lower prevalence of poor sleep quality (28.1% vs. 34.2%; p = 0.025). Among users, activity-tracking functions were associated with the best sleep quality, whereas exclusively sleep-tracking users reported poorer scores (p = 0.015). In multivariable analyses, male sex (β = −3.58; p < 0.001), adequate physical activity (β = −3.10; p = 0.002), and sleep tracking (β = −2.78; p = 0.042) were associated with better sleep quality, while current smoking was associated with poorer sleep quality (β = 2.61; p = 0.043).
Conclusion: Smartwatch use was associated with better sleep quality among Saudi adults. These findings sup ported the potential role of wearable technology in sleep health monitoring.

Key words: Smartwatch, wearable devices, sleep quality, Sleep Quality Scale, digital health, Saudi Arabia