Effects of emotional distress on job performance among humanitarian workers in Southwest Uganda

This research examined the impact of emotional distress on job performance while integrating mental health support, stress management programs, and employee wellness interventions to improve emotional resilience and maintain job performance. This research focused on the effects of emotional distress on job performance among humanitarian workers in the Southwestern region of Uganda. A total of 263 participants were engaged in the study, selected through purposive and convenience sampling methods from humanitarian organizations operating within the area. Data were gathered via a structured questionnaire employing a five-point Likert scale, and analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) alongside regression analysis to ascertain the strength and significance of the association between emotional distress and job performance. The descriptive outcomes indicated elevated levels of emotional distress, with 68.8% of respondents expressing strong agreement regarding the experience of work-related sadness. (M = 4.107, SD = 1.484), a notable 68.4% of respondents indicated a recurrent sense of anxiety concerning the safety and welfare of individuals under their care (M = 4.148, SD = 1.432), while 59.3% reported feelings of being overwhelmed by the demands of their daily professional responsibilities (M = 4.061, SD = 1.358), and 60.5% articulated experiences of emotional exhaustion attributable to their occupational roles (M = 3.965, SD = 1.447). The results of the regression analysis revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between emotional distress and job performance (p < 0.05), suggesting that elevated levels of emotional distress correlate with diminished job performance among humanitarian practitioners. Qualitative feedback obtained from key informants at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other orgnisations like World Food Program (WFP) elucidated emotional adversities, including compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, stress arising from substantial workloads, and the psychological impact of continuous exposure to human suffering. The results highlighted the pressing necessity for humanitarian organizations to incorporate mental health assistance, stress regulation initiatives, and employee well-being strategies to bolster emotional fortitude and maintain job efficacy in high-pressure humanitarian settings.