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However, EMIs for addictive behaviors have hardly been developed so far.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aimed to explore and identify relevant predictors of gambling episodes assessed by ecological momentary assessments and physiological smartwatch (Apple Watch) data, which in turn may be used for the further development of EMI-based interventions.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A total of 109 at-risk gamblers were recruited online in a collaborative study between Switzerland and Korea. Over a period of 28 days, participants were asked to complete brief ecological momentary assessment surveys 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) asking about their gambling behavior and their levels of craving intensity, sleep quality, physical activity, boredom, vitality, depression, and anxiety. They were instructed to wear an Apple Watch that continuously and passively recorded several physiological indicators (eg, heart rate [variability], sleep metrics, and physical activity). Machine learning techniques and multilevel modeling approaches will be used to develop prediction models for gambling episodes and to identify relevant predictors.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Data collection has been completed since April 2025. In total, 109 participants have been enrolled in both countries (52 in Switzerland, 57 in Korea), and datasets are currently being prepared for analysis. The collected data are expected to enable the development of prediction models for gambling episodes.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Incorporating the relevant predictors found in this study into digital intervention programs and providing just-in-time individually tailored intervention elements could improve program engagement and effectiveness. The approach used in this study is transferable to other digital interventions for addictive behaviors and holds promise to exploit their potential.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/82782","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T19:54:17Z","timestamp":1771530857000},"page":"e82782-e82782","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Identifying Predictors of Gambling Episodes and Craving Using Ecological Momentary Assessment and Smartwatch-Based Physiological Measures: Protocol for a Longitudinal Observational Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3129-443X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreas Maximilian","family":"Meyer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5302-9419","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Esther","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3941-2980","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hae Kook","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0635-2897","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gwanghyun","family":"Jo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8375-4005","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michael Patrick","family":"Schaub","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6539-5045","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Severin","family":"Haug","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]]},"reference":[{"issue":"10258","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1204","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)30925-9","article-title":"Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019","volume":"396","author":"GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2020.04.001","article-title":"Gambling and gambling-related harm: recent World Health Organization initiatives","volume":"184","author":"Abbott","journal-title":"Public Health (Fairfax)"},{"issue":"4","key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"592","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.5.2016.073","article-title":"Problem gambling worldwide: an update and systematic review of empirical research (2000-2015)","volume":"5","author":"Calado","journal-title":"J Behav Addict"},{"issue":"11","key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19116583","article-title":"Risk factors for addictive behaviors: a general overview","volume":"19","author":"Santangelo","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1080\/14459795.2017.1304973","article-title":"A population-level metric for gambling-related harm","volume":"17","author":"Browne","journal-title":"Int Gambl Stud"},{"issue":"3","key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"490","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.2010.03300.x","article-title":"Prevalence of comorbid disorders in problem and pathological gambling: systematic review and meta-analysis of population surveys","volume":"106","author":"Lorains","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"issue":"2","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"410","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.7.2018.41","article-title":"Prevalence of gambling-related harm provides evidence for the prevention paradox","volume":"7","author":"Browne","journal-title":"J Behav Addict"},{"issue":"2","key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.2022.00045","article-title":"Gambling-related harms to concerned significant others: a national Australian prevalence study","volume":"11","author":"Hing","journal-title":"J Behav Addict"},{"issue":"15-16","key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7645","DOI":"10.1177\/0886260519835877","article-title":"Problem gambling and family violence: factors associated with family violence victimization and perpetration in treatment-seeking gamblers","volume":"36","author":"Dowling","journal-title":"J Interpers Violence"},{"issue":"1","key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7391-z","article-title":"Public health effects of gambling - 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