Preventing commuting stress: A study of social support and positive experience on subjective stressors as a preventive stress method in an automotive context.
Authors
Jensen, Joachim Klyssing ; Fejerskov, Anders Linde
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-06-10
Pages
27
Abstract
Pendling kan være stressende. Dette speciale undersøger, om positive oplevelser og social støtte kan dæmpe stress hos pendlere. Med afsæt i arbejde af Hassenzahl og McGrady udviklede vi Carpool, en mobil, interaktiv kommunikationsplatform, der lader kolleger dele deres pendling. Målet er forebyggende: at påvirke subjektive stressorer (indre tanker og følelser) for dermed at påvirke oplevet stress. Vi gennemførte et research-through-design-studie, dvs. vi byggede og afprøvede en prototype med brugere. Tre kolleger brugte Carpool i en uge og vurderede den som nyttig, let at bruge og overordnet en god oplevelse. Resultaterne viser også, at objektive stressorer (ydre forhold) oplevedes som mindre alvorlige, når deltagerne talte med kolleger, og at tiden føltes som om den gik hurtigere. Studiet pegede også på ulemper: visse designfejl øgede stress, samtaler krævede opmærksomhed under pendlingen, lydfeedback manglede, og det var svært at koordinere med andre. Vi konkluderer, at forebyggende stresshåndtering i pendlingskonteksten er underbelyst.
Commuting can be stressful. This thesis examines whether positive experiences and social support can ease stress for commuters. Drawing on work by Hassenzahl and McGrady, we created Carpool, a mobile, interactive communication platform that lets colleagues share their commute. The goal is preventive: to influence subjective stressors (internal thoughts and feelings) in order to affect perceived stress. We conducted a research-through-design study, meaning we built and tested a prototype with users. Three co-workers used Carpool for one week and rated it useful, easy to use, and a generally good experience. Results also show that objective stressors (external conditions) felt less severe when participants talked with colleagues, and time felt as if it passed faster. The study also revealed downsides: some design flaws increased stress, conversations demanded attention during the commute, audio feedback was missing, and coordinating with others was difficult. We conclude that preventive stress management in the context of commuting is under-researched.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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