Validity research on ecological momentary assessment in older adults: A scoping review
Thanakrit Jeamjitvibool, Wirampa Tanglai, Krisada Suamchaiyaphum

TL;DR
This paper reviews the validity of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in older adults, finding it effective for capturing real-time health data.
Contribution
The study provides a scoping review of EMA validity in older adults, highlighting its effectiveness and methodological trends.
Findings
EMA showed satisfactory validity for capturing real-time data on symptoms and behaviors in older adults.
Most studies used mobile apps and assessed convergent, criterion, and ecological validity.
Adherence rates ranged from 61% to 95% across studies with durations from 5 to 316 days.
Abstract
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a longitudinal self-report method used to assess fluctuating symptoms and health behaviors in real time within individuals’ natural environments during daily activities. Increasing use of technologies such as mobile applications has enhanced EMA research. However, ensuring EMA’s validity and reliability for older populations remains challenging. This study summarized the literature on validity testing of EMA in older adults. We employed the JBI Scoping Review Framework and reporting guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Embase for relevant articles published through March 10, 2025. Included studies were empirical research published in English and measured behavior or compared EMA to other methods. We excluded review articles, study protocols, and research exclusively utilizing ambulatory assessments…
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Taxonomy
TopicsDigital Mental Health Interventions · Mental Health Research Topics · Physical Activity and Health
