Measuring Stress
Smartphone-Based Experience Sampling and other methods
Ulrich Atz

Quantified Self
1. How can we measure stress?
2. What is the “best” way to do so?
3. What can you take away?

Three methods
1. Experience Sampling
2. Day Reconstruction Method
3. Heart Rate

ESM user interface

Day Reconstruction Method

Memory Belt

Heart Rate
90
80
SampleHR
70
60
50
05jun2011 08:50:00 05jun2011 09:06:40 05jun2011 09:23:20 05jun2011 09:40:00 05jun2011 09:
time
Source: Author

80
70
Stress by DRM
60
50
40
30
2 1 0 1 2
Stress by ESM (standardised)
Excluding three outliers
Hollow circles are used for treatment occasions, full circles otherwise
Light blue indicates a low number of ESM measurements, dark blue a high one
Source: Author

What can you learn?
Simplicity, avoid biophysical measures
Planning, e.g. number of observations: 3 to 4 weeks
Best method? Type of person, ask yourself
 ESM – do you carry around a smartphone?
 DRM – do you have a routine and discipline?
Careful when trying to change something
Keep it simple!