1. Description of the knowledge, idea or result derived from or related to the above project
In consequence of the trajectory of our R&DI through our projects – particularly in 2018 – we have developed
1)Evidence-based conceptual and empirical developments: (1) a competency model of the personal protective and risk factors in relation to academic stress/wellbeing (de la Fuente, et al., 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021); (2) a model of factor interaction (in the context of specific teaching-learning processes) called Self vs External Regulation Behavior Theory (de la Fuente, 2021, 2022). Both are currently in the process of technical and empirical development.
2) A technological development that is the subject of this Proof of Concept Project: INETAS (www.inetas.net ).
3) The online self-help tool for university students call e-Coping with Stress is a multilingual tool used online, in various languages (English, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish). This technological development has three parts:
Self-assessment tool for each of the empirically contrasted factors and variables from our previous research following (1) translation, and (2) validation in each language and, (3) revalidation in that format. This part of the tool allows an individual and group report to be prepared for a given inventory with information for the student about each item evaluated in their own language. The student obtains a score that is low (red), medium (yellow) or high (green). The tool can also provide data for a group, whether by subject, clinical group or organizational group.
Evaluation of user satisfaction with self-assessment and self-help. Integrated in the self-assessment inventory.
Self-help tool for each factor. The tool shows each userself-help guidance based on their score for each variable.
2. Possible products, goods, applications or beneficiaries of the project: sectors, fields or potential users of any of them
The proof of concept project will allow:
1) To improve the features of the application e-Coping with Stress: (1) In its current format, it can be used as a multilingual online self-help (assessment and improvement) tool by pre-university (School Leaving exams) and university (bachelor´s degree, post-graduate; candidates for public exams) teaching staff and students; some languages are currently missing: French, German, Chinese and Arabic. In the final version, it can also be used by therapists and patients. (2) In its updated format, as an App and incorporating AI, it will be better transferrable to the end market of university users.
2) To make the tool available to those final users through the oversight and promoter organizations. The Official College of Psychology of Spain is our Oversight Body and Gunti-EOS is a Promoter.
3) The sectors inhabited by final users are the different countries and languages indicated: (1) pre-university and university young people; (2) candidates for public exams; (3) educational settings with Educational Psychologists (4) Health facilities headed up by medical practice groups; (5) Organizations that have in-house Psychologists.
3. Contribution of Proof of Concept
The characteristics of the tool to be tested in the proof of concept are differential specifically in overcoming the problems identified:
1) All the variables assessed are based on factors that form part of scientifically validated models.
2) Each of the assessment tools used has been revalidated in the relevant language. This is something that is ongoing because there are several instruments and in some cases, they have been translatedonly recently.
3) The tool, in global terms, has been designed and is intended to help to assess the degree of competency in stress management of university students and to propose improvement strategies. In its current design phase, it can be used by Educational Psychologists in pre-university and university settings, by General Psychologists in practice and by Psychologists in-house inOrganizations.
4) Given that it is in several languages, the tool can be used in full at European and international level.
4. The novelty and innovation provided by the results proposed to be evaluated: maturity of the proposal (from idea to implementation)
The novelty and innovation of the proposal has several aspects:
1) There is no similar multilingual tool in the field because it has been developed on the basis of prior existing research into academic stress, positive psychology and wellbeing in the university context.
2) It can be used personally, discretely and simply online or, in the future, through a system of mobile phone apps.
3) It allows permanent collection of data and their use in research. The data will also be analyzed by artificial intelligence.
4) Its assessment and self-help structure can be adapted to incorporate new variables in function of ongoing research.
5) As part of the Inetas online system (www.inetas.net) it can host and let space to other similar projects that want to use the same infrastructure.
J. De la Fuente, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
