Digital Health

Biography

Biography: Ezekiel Chinyio

Abstract

The negative effects of stress at work in terms of emotional disorders and organisational difficulties have pressed the need for new solutions and especially direct-to-user tools such as mobile applications. While new technology can support the architecture of such tools, adaptive coping behaviours have also been identified as an important factor for promoting new strategies for coping effectively with stress at work. A study being reported in this paper investigates how technology can be used to influence adaptive coping behaviours. The study is synthesizing the key aspects of personality and behavior into a conceptual model for creating a new mobile application. The overall goal of this application (aka Streblo) is to detect: 1) Early signs of stress; that is the mental (personality) and physical state resulting when the resources of the individual are inadequate to cope with the demands and pressures of the situation, 2) Stress consequences that can undermine the achievement of goals; and 3) Propose innovative solutions to cope with stress. A literature review concerning coping behaviours and use of technology was conducted to gather evidence for the foundation of the conceptual model. Primary data is being collected and the empirical findings of the research will be tested and verified using the WEKA software (fig. 1) against the theoretical framework consisting of the ‘Big 5 Theory of Personality, ‘Stress & Coping Theory’ and the concept of ‘Gamification’. Particularly, the following aspects of the theoretical framework are being used to design Streblo: customization to the user, use of relevant and tailored information and feedback and, uses of positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions. Meanwhile, the conceptual model provides further knowledge of key aspects to be considered when developing persuasive tools that aim to encourage more efficient ways of coping with stressful events.