Digital Companion Choice to Support Teachers’ Stress Self-Management: A systematic approach through taxonomy creation (Preprint)
BACKGROUND There are thousands of digital companions (DC) designed for emotional wellbeing and stress, including interactive websites, wearables and smartphone apps. Although public evaluation frameworks and ratings exist, they do not facilitate DC choice based on contextual or individual information such as occupation or personal management strategies. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to establish a process of creating a taxonomy to support systematic choice of DCs for teachers’ stress self-management. METHODS We employed a 4-step study design. In step 1, we identified the dimension of stress self-management and strategic classifications. In step 2 we identified the dimension of digital techniques and conceptual descriptions. In step 3 we created six criteria for inclusion of DCs. In step 4 we used the taxonomy framework created by steps 1 and 2 and populated it with DCs for stress self-management as identified in step 3. RESULTS First, in the dimension of stress self-management we identified 4 classes of strategies: educational, physiological, cognitive and social. Second, in the digital techniques dimension we derived 4 conceptual descriptions of DCs’ mechanisms of action: fostering reflection, suggesting treatment, peer-to-peer support and entertainment. Third, we created 6 criteria for DC inclusion in the taxonomy: suitability, availability, evaluation, security, validity and cost. Using the taxonomy framework and criteria, we populated it with DCs for stress management ahead of presentation to teachers in a stress study workshop. CONCLUSIONS We believe elements of our approach will generalise as principles for the creation of taxonomies for other occupations or conditions. Taxonomies such as this could be a valuable resource for individuals understanding what DC could be of help in their personal context.