In the Right Place at the Right Time: Leveraging Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment to Analyze Contexts and Health

A variety of disciplines contribute to our understanding of the interplay between humans and their environments, particularly regarding how environmental exposures shape population health profiles and inequities. Traditionally, research on “neighborhood effects” has relied on relatively crude measures of contextual conditions around one’s home, limiting our ability to identify specific mechanisms and actionable targets for intervention. However, the recent proliferation of wearable devices capable of tracking location and making it possible to “at that moment” physiological and behavioral data offers exciting new avenues for investigation. This chapter explores the potential of geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA), which combines ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with location tracking and geographic information systems (GIS). GEMA enables the linking of objective environmental data with momentary measures of psychological states, behaviors, and physical health, making it possible to better assess how daily living environments contribute to health outcomes and health inequities. This chapter discusses the theoretical underpinnings of GEMA, its methodological advantages, and its potential to generate evidence for building health-promoting and equitable communities.