Stress Level

Former Member
Former Member
Curious to know:

Does anyone know how the 'stress level' feature is calculated? How accurate do we all believe it to be on the Instinct?
I guess what I am really asking is... how concerned do I need to be about the variability in the results I see from my device?


Thank you all in advance.
  • guinnsquirrel - as I understand it the stress level is calculated based upon heart rate variability. Given that it is not (AFIK) a universally recognised measure difficult to know how accurate it is. Do your scores roughly reflect what you would expect based upon your subjective view? Also what do you mean by concerned about variability in the results - do you just mean that the scores vary day by day by a large amount or do you mean that you have two days which you perceive to be very similar stress and activity wise that show very different stress scores.Over the past few weeks on my fenix 5+ my daily score has been 7 lowest up to 36 highest with an average of 24 - what is it you are seeing that concerns you?
  • I would suggest looking at this forum post from a FirstBeat team member. They provide tons of useful information in their post and some great resources too.
  • Garmin-Heath thanks for that - makes for an interesting read
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago
    guinnsquirrel - as I understand it the stress level is calculated based upon heart rate variability. Given that it is not (AFIK) a universally recognised measure difficult to know how accurate it is. Do your scores roughly reflect what you would expect based upon your subjective view? Also what do you mean by concerned about variability in the results - do you just mean that the scores vary day by day by a large amount or do you mean that you have two days which you perceive to be very similar stress and activity wise that show very different stress scores.Over the past few weeks on my fenix 5+ my daily score has been 7 lowest up to 36 highest with an average of 24 - what is it you are seeing that concerns you?


    I had a bug/temperature for a few days. That might be why my readings are looking whacky :/
  • I was curious about my stress level when I was dying in the bed full 24 hours because of the hangover.
    I was really surprised about the result,totally accurate. ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1458657.jpg
  • Szunyog007 well good to hear something's working!! :)
  • I was curious about my stress level when I was dying in the bed full 24 hours because of the hangover.
    I was really surprised about the result,totally accurate.


    Can stress be measured in a scientifically correct way? And how is stress definied scientifically?

    According to my own little expierence, the stress values Garmin watches are very helpful, when we suffer from stress and do not perceive it anymore. The stress data on a Garmin watch can help us reduce the stress, until we perceive it again. Then, our subjective perception of stress is much more superior to the data on our watch.
  • adrm2016b not sure what you mean - there's quite alot of current research on stress and hrv https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/heart-rate-variability-new-way-track-well-2017112212789 and many others

    It provides an objective measure (assuming that it is accurate of course) and should help inform you about how your body and autonomic nervous system respond to training, illness and other stressors and allow you to adjust behaviour accordingly
  • I recently had appendicitis, which ultimately led to surgery, but the day it started hurting, the stress meter pegged at 100 for some time. Thing is usually pretty accurate, most of the time it doesn't really tell you anything you can't feel already, but other times it seems to help you decide if you are just being a baby and feel tired, or actually have something off.