Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation
There is a paucity of research into the subjective stress-related experiences of humanitarian aid workers (HAWs). Most studies investigating stress in HAWs focus on trauma and related conditions or adopt a quantitative approach. This interview-based study explored how HAWs (n=58) employed by a Unite...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/ |
| _version_ | 1848796510685233152 |
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| author | Jachens, Liza Houdmont, Jonathan Thomas, Roslyn |
| author_facet | Jachens, Liza Houdmont, Jonathan Thomas, Roslyn |
| author_sort | Jachens, Liza |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | There is a paucity of research into the subjective stress-related experiences of humanitarian aid workers (HAWs). Most studies investigating stress in HAWs focus on trauma and related conditions or adopt a quantitative approach. This interview-based study explored how HAWs (n=58) employed by a United Nations aligned organisation perceived the transactional stress process. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes. An emergency culture was found where most employees felt compelled to offer an immediate response to humanitarian needs. Employees experienced a strong identification with humanitarian goals and reported high engagement. The rewards of humanitarian work were perceived as motivating and meaningful. Constant change and urgent demands resulted in work overload. Managing work-life boundaries and receiving positive support from colleagues and managers helped buffer perceived stress, work overload and negative health outcomes. The practical implications of the results are discussed and suggestions made in light of current research and stress theory. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:49:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-42542 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:49:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-425422018-03-29T09:43:03Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/ Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation Jachens, Liza Houdmont, Jonathan Thomas, Roslyn There is a paucity of research into the subjective stress-related experiences of humanitarian aid workers (HAWs). Most studies investigating stress in HAWs focus on trauma and related conditions or adopt a quantitative approach. This interview-based study explored how HAWs (n=58) employed by a United Nations aligned organisation perceived the transactional stress process. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes. An emergency culture was found where most employees felt compelled to offer an immediate response to humanitarian needs. Employees experienced a strong identification with humanitarian goals and reported high engagement. The rewards of humanitarian work were perceived as motivating and meaningful. Constant change and urgent demands resulted in work overload. Managing work-life boundaries and receiving positive support from colleagues and managers helped buffer perceived stress, work overload and negative health outcomes. The practical implications of the results are discussed and suggestions made in light of current research and stress theory. Wiley 2018-03-13 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/9/Jachens_et_al-2018-Disasters.pdf Jachens, Liza, Houdmont, Jonathan and Thomas, Roslyn (2018) Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation. Disasters . ISSN 1467-7717 Humanitarian aid worker Qualitative interviews Work-related stress Health Well-being https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/disa.12278 doi:10.1111/disa.12278 doi:10.1111/disa.12278 |
| spellingShingle | Humanitarian aid worker Qualitative interviews Work-related stress Health Well-being Jachens, Liza Houdmont, Jonathan Thomas, Roslyn Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title | Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title_full | Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title_fullStr | Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title_short | Work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| title_sort | work-related stress in a humanitarian context: a qualitative investigation |
| topic | Humanitarian aid worker Qualitative interviews Work-related stress Health Well-being |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42542/ |