Emotional Distress in the Work of a Sworn Translator – Risk and Protective Factors

The study presented in this article aimed to determine whether Polish sworn translators experience emotional distress in relation to their work and to identify risk factors and protective factors against emotional distress. This study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 28 sworn translators – 16 women and 12 men. During the interview, the respondents were asked seven main questions that were not shared in advance, allowing for spontaneous responses. From the translators’ responses, three risk factors for emotional distress, i.e. individual sensitivity to demanding communication situations, frequency of participation in difficult cases as well as sense of responsibility, and three protective factors, including assertiveness, mental toughness and professional experience, were identified.