Automated Stress Detection and Restoration in Office Workers

NCT05242523 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UP-21-00484
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims at establishing a laboratory experiment that mimics office work stressors, examining the feasibility of automated stress detection, and identifying the most significant physiological and/or behavioral features that can be used to differentiate between positive stress (eustress) and negative stress (distress). Additionally, we will investigate if triggering the olfactory (exposing participants to pleasant smells) senses would help reduce stress.

Conditions

Stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Heart rate

  Heart rate will be collected through a sensor attached to the participant's chest at a collection rate of 1 heart rate reading per second. The average heart rate will be examined across study conditions.

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

• Electrodermal activity

  Electrodermal activity will be collected through a sensor placed on the wrist similar to a watch, with data collection at a rate of 4 readings per second. The average electrodermal activity will be examined across study conditions.

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

• Blink rate

  A facial detection algorithm will be used to detect the blinking rate of the participant from a camera that collects 10 frames per second. The average blink rate will be examined across study conditions.

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

• Gaze angle

  A facial detection algorithm will be used to detect the gaze angle direction of the participant from a camera that collects 10 frames per second. The durations of gaze angles will be examined across study conditions.

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Mouse clicks

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

• Keyboard keystrokes

  Throughout study participation, up to 120 minutes

Study Arms (3)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

No exposure to smells.

Olfactory Condition - 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this condition will be exposed to the smell of natural wood scent continuously. A diffuser with essential oils will be turned on during that time to deliver the smell.

Other: Natural wood scent

Olfactory Condition - 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this condition will be exposed to the smell of Bergamot scent continuously. A diffuser with essential oils will be turned on during that time to deliver the smell.

Other: Bergamot scent

Interventions

Bergamot scent OTHER

The scent of bergamot is fruity and citrusy, with floral hints and spice notes.

Olfactory Condition - 2

Natural wood scent OTHER

Wood notes tend to be rich and warm, often forming the base of a scent due to their aromatic weight.

Olfactory Condition - 1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants will be older than 18.
• Participants should be proficient at speaking and writing in English.
• Qualified participants should have a normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and a normal sense of smell.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants will be screened to make sure that they don't have any physical or psychological-related problems that make them sensitive to stress-inducing tasks.
• Participants who are taking any medication to regulate their blood pressure will not be allowed to participate in the study as these medications might affect the quality of the blood volume pulse-related data.
• Pregnant women are not allowed to participate in this study.
• Participants using prescription medication, diagnosed with color blindness, rhinitis, or hay fever, or have allergic reactions to essential oils ( e.g., contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis) will not be allowed to participate in this study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Southern California: lead
• Southern California NIOSH Education and Research Center: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California, 90089, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Burcin Becerik-Gerber, PhD

  University of Southern California

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 20, 2022
• First Posted: February 16, 2022
• Study Start: April 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 5, 2022
• Study Completion: July 5, 2022
• Last Updated: July 8, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)