How Reflective Automated e-Coaching Can Help Employees Improve Their Capacity for Resilience: Mixed Methods Study
Aniek Lentferink1, Hilbrand Oldenhuis2, Hugo Velthuijsen2
1Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
JMIR Human Factors
|March 10, 2023
Summary
This study found that an automated e-Coach helped employees gain insights into stress and resilience through guided self-reflection. However, integrating strategies into daily life proved challenging, suggesting a need for improved event identification in the e-Coach.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Occupational Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- eHealth tools can support employees with moderate stress by fostering resilience.
- Effective self-reflection requires deeper data understanding beyond simple summaries.
- Automated coaching offers a potential avenue for enhancing employee resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an automated e-Coach's effectiveness in guiding employee self-reflection.
- To assess the impact of the e-Coach on perceived stress and resilience.
- To understand the utility of the e-Coach's design elements in the reflection process.
Main Methods:
- A 6-week program (BringBalance) with 28 participants using an automated e-Coach.
- Mixed methods approach including log data, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), interviews, and pre/post surveys.
- Utilized the Brief Resilience Scale and Perceived Stress Scale.
Main Results:
- No significant pre-post changes in perceived stress or resilience scores.
- The e-Coach facilitated insight into stress factors and strategy principles.
- Participants struggled to integrate strategies into daily life and practice them on recurring events.
Conclusions:
- Employees can engage in self-reflection with an e-Coach, leading to new insights.
- The e-Coach needs enhanced guidance for identifying recurring daily events to improve strategy practice.
- Future research should explore improvements to e-Coach guided reflection quality.
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