Chapter 7 210 state” [79]. If the momentum of problem situations cannot be caught, the moment that the user is most receptive to influence, the virtual coach misses its purpose. Although beyond the scope of the study, it is conceivable that sufficient and relevant data could be collected that would enable adequate JITAIs. An instance of this would be the examination of the semantic content within the user’s help question to determine the precise tipping point, namely ‘Experiencing cravings’ or ‘After giving in to cravings.’ This analysis allows for tailored coaching that aligns with the identified tipping point. Different data providers can be used for this, such as the user’s textual or spoken input to the chatbot, the data entered in the emo.analyzer (a tool based on Linehan’s behaviour chain analysis model, as described in Chapter 2), the sensors in the smartphone or smartwatch that capture the changing states of individuals (heart rate, sweat, and blood glucose etc.), and information from the outside world, the contextual data, such as the living and working environment, the weather, etc. [80]. This requires collecting large sets of behavioural and emotion-related data from emotional eaters leading up to the problem situations “experiencing cravings” and “after giving in to cravings”. With the deployment of machine learning, this collected data can be labeled and then trained to match the desired feedback or support. A similar (datadriven) approach has already been conducted by Hwang et al. [81] with behavioural data from emotional eaters collected on social media. To facilitate emotional eaters to cope with self-management of their emotional eating behaviour we need to work on secure timing. Indeed, with emotional eaters, momentum seems particularly important. But just-in-time delivery of adequate coaching is difficult and complex. To conclude The main research question, “How can virtual coaching facilitate emotional eaters to cope with self-management of their emotional eating behaviour?” can be answered as follows: Emotional eaters can be facilitated by offering virtual coaching and exercises aimed at increasing their understanding of emotions and skills in emotion regulation, by using DBT-based coaching strategies to increase their awareness. Virtual coaching is offered tailored to user groups with similar characteristics. This can be done using personas, each representing a subtype in which emotional eaters recognize themselves.
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