Secondary Traumatic Stress, depression and job performance: The moderating role of perceived supervisory support among humanitarian workers in the Northern section of refugee management in Uganda

Abstract

Humanitarian workers engaged in crisis and conflict zones often confront profound emotional challenges, potentially impacting their job performance. This study explored the interplay between Perceived Supervisory Support (PSS), Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), Depression, and job performance among humanitarian workers, aiming to inform strategies to enhance their well-being and effectiveness. The cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 146 humanitarian workers across different mission settings. The survey included standardized measures to assess PSS, STS, Depression, and job performance. Data were analyzed using SPSS. The study results revealed varied prevalence rates of mental health challenges, with Depression (moderate to severe) at 32.8% being the most prevalent among humanitarian workers and STS at 11%. Correlation analyses indicated significant relationships between PSS and job performance (r = 0.396, p < 0.01), STS and job performance (r = -0.246, p < 0.05), and Depression and job performance (r = -0.211, p < 0.05). The moderation analysis demonstrated a significant moderating effect of PSS on the relationship between STS and job performance (β = -0.0070, p < 0.05) but not between Depression and job performance (β = -0.008, p = 0.250). This study highlights the pivotal role of PSS in enhancing job performance and buffering the adverse effects of STS among humanitarian workers. The high prevalence of Depression and STS brings to the light the need for tailored mental health interventions. These findings inform practice, policy, and research, suggesting the importance of strengthening supervisory support programs, prioritizing mental health interventions, and conducting context-specific research to improve the well-being and effectiveness of humanitarian workers.