Salzburg Research, together with partners, developed a system for personalized stress management in the work context. The prototype was tested intensively with numerous test persons. The results are now available.

In a time of increasing pressure at work, almost half of Austrians feel severely affected by stress. The most common causes include time pressure, social conflicts, and constant availability. These stresses can cause both short-term impairments such as sleep problems and concentration disorders, as well as long-term illnesses such as depression and burnout.

This is where the RELAX project stepped in: it explored how technology can help people recognize their stress levels and take targeted action to reduce them. A core part of the project was the development of a system for continuous stress monitoring. Biometric data, such as heart rate variability, was combined with movement data and psychological parameters in order to automatically differentiate between positive eustress and negative distress.

Another focus was on the development of personalized interventions. Over 180 measures, from relaxation exercises to competence training, were made available in a specially developed app. These measures were continuously adapted on the basis of individual stress patterns and users’ assessments.

A field study with 46 participants showed promising results. The automated interventions led to a reduction in both subjective and physiological stress. The automated interventions led to a reduction in both subjective and physiological stress. However, there were also challenges: While the basic idea is convincing, potential for improvement was identified in terms of user-friendliness and technical stability. The selection of suitable sensor material that is not disturbing during daily use but still provides scientifically robust data also proved to be more challenging than expected. The knowledge gained will be used to optimize the technology and make it available to broader target groups.

RELAX was funded by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (resp. FFG).

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