App helps construction workers cope better with job-related stress
According to the most recent opinion poll conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health (OSHA) at work, about 50 % of European workers surveyed reported work-related stress as a problem common to their workplace. This problem is also acknowledged in a report by the Council of Europe’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development last year. With high accident levels (some fatal), coupled with the pressures of work turnaround times, the construction industry is especially prone to high rates of stress. EU support through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme enabled the INSTINCT project to investigate this phenomenon. The project found that stressed workers lacked the means to cope with their situation. This is partly because triggers are often due to circumstances beyond their control, whether it be working in confined spaces or being away from home. To help provide a coping mechanism, the project developed a free ‘Stress-Blocker’ App-based tool (Streblo) which drew on learning from cognitive psychology to help workers recognise and mitigate stress.
From questionnaire to app
To gather the information, the project team visited construction sites to observe working conditions and talk directly to workers about their experiences of stress. Some 611 questionnaires were also returned either online or onsite, gathering data about the respondents’ personality, stress levels and usual coping mechanism. After statistical analyses of the survey results (including hierarchical regression and sequential equation modelling), the team found that about three quarters of respondents reported either mild or high levels of stress. “The two psychological principles at the heart of the INSTINCT project were an understanding of how our innate personalities differ and so, consequently, do our reactions to adverse situations,” explains Ezekiel Chinyio, the project coordinator. “Cognitive psychology identifies the Big-five personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness, and so while some people withdraw, others prefer to talk about their stress.” The Streblo App was developed to help users both forestall experiencing stress in the first place and also cope with an already stressful situation. The App asks the user a series of 10 questions and uses their answers to gauge the severity of stress experienced. A user is then given appropriate stress-coping activities to perform based on the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) ratings. The de-stressing exercises include taking rests and doing breathing and mild physical activities.
Towards tailored support
With some estimates putting the cost to the United Kingdom economy of work-related stress as high as EUR 18 billion per year, it is a pressing problem. The INSTINCT team hope that their study results could help institutions such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK or OSHA in the EU to form evidence-based policy recommendations. Silvia Riva the project’s research fellow is also currently exploring a collaboration with the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK for their Mental Health First Aider training, whereby the Streblo App, in conjunction with assigned first aiders, could help support people in distress. The first version of the Streblo App is now freely available for both iOS and Android devices, with the team seeking additional funding to extend the App’s functionality. “We now want to use AI techniques to better link personality with coping options to tailor the solution to individuals,” says Chinyio. “We are also developing training materials to help reduce workplace stress triggers with adjustments like more flexible hours, which might also attract more women.”
Keywords
INSTINCT, work, stress, illness, depression, pressures, personality, cognitive psychology, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness
