An adjusting device for a headrest of a motor vehicle seat is specified. The adjusting device comprises, in a first variant, a capacitive
proximity sensor integrated into or designed for integration into the headrest having at least three transmitting electrodes spaced apart vertically from one another and having a common receiving
electrode. In a second variant of the adjusting device, the
proximity sensor has at least three receiving electrodes spaced apart vertically from one another and has a common transmitting
electrode. In both variants, the adjusting device also has an actuating drive for motorized vertical adjustment of the headrest relative to the vehicle seat, as well as a
control unit. The
control unit here is designed to drive the transmitting electrodes or transmitting
electrode for emission of an alternating
electric field to determine from the received electrical signals detected from the receiving electrode or the receiving electrodes, respective associated measured
capacitance values that contain information about the
capacitance produced between each of the transmitting electrodes or receiving electrodes and the common receiving electrode or transmitting electrode, and to drive the actuating drive to establish a vertical target position of the headrest relative to the
head position of a vehicle occupant as a function of the measured
capacitance values.