02The personal use of digital technologies and media has increased strongly in recent years. For many people this increase in use also leads to different forms of digital stress. What digital stress actually is, which forms it takes, and how users cope with it will be explored in this research project.
Following dimensions are of therefore relevant:
- The meaning of digital stress: What forms of digital stress do media users experience? How do they relate to these forms?
- Practices in coping with digital stress: To what extent is digital stress a part of the everyday leisure activities of users? How do users cope with digital stress?
- The context and knowledge of users: What role does the context (friends, relatives, media) play in recognizing and coping with stress? Does perception and coping differ depending on how familiar one is with digital technologies?
The qualitative multi-level research framework includes in-depth interviews, group discussions and media ethnographic observations. The results of the project can be used for developing coping strategies and concepts for dealing with stress situations in families, public institutions and schools.