Where does stress happen? Ecological momentary assessment of daily stressors using a mobile phone app. [Journal article]

Yao, Xing; Nelson, Erik J.; Stavrianakis, Kostas; Huang, Ting‐Yen (Tim); Moran, Casey; Shih, Patrick C.; Jordan, Evan J.

Abstract

Despite the importance of daily stress to individuals' health and wellbeing, few studies have explored where stress happens in real time, that is, dynamic stress processes in different spaces. As such, stress interventions rarely account for the environment in which stress occurs. We used mobile phone based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to collect daily stress data. Thirty-three participants utilized a mobile-phone-based EMA app to self-report stressors as they went about their daily lives. Geographic coordinates were automatically collected with each stress report. Data from thematic analysis of stressors by location (home, work, work from home, other) were used to determine whether certain stressors were more prevalent in certain environments. Nine daily stressors significantly differed by location. Work-related stress was reported more often at work. Pets, household chores, sleep, and media-related stressors were reported most at home. Physical illnesses, vehicle issues, and safety/security stressors occurred most often while participants were "working from home." Traffic-related stress was experienced more commonly in "other" environments. Other 18 stressors were generated regardless of location, suggesting that these stressors were persistent and without respect to location. Study findings expand the understanding of environments in which specific stressors occur, providing baseline data for potential targeted "just-in-time" stress interventions tailored to unique stressors in specific environments. We also provide findings related to the "work from home" phenomenon. Further work is needed to better understand the unique stressors among the large number of individuals who transitioned to working from home during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citation

YAO, X., NELSON, E.J., STAVRIANAKIS, K., HUANG, T.-Y., MORAN, C., SHIH, P.C. and JORDAN, E.J. [2024.] Where does stress happen? Ecological momentary assessment of daily stressors using a mobile phone app. Mental health science [online], Early Access, article number e54. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.54

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 29, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 10, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 19, 2024
• Journal: Mental Health Science
• Print ISSN: 2642-3588
• Electronic ISSN: 2642-3588
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: e54
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.54
• Keywords: Daily stress; Ecological momentary assessment; Geospatial analysis; Workplace
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2242853