The moderating role of social support in the relationship between vicarious trauma and job performance among humanitarian workers in Southwestern Uganda

Humanitarian workers are routinely exposed to traumatic narratives and distressing field experiences, placing them at risk of vicarious trauma and diminished job performance. Drawing on the Job Demands Resources Model, this study examined the relationship between vicarious trauma and job performance and tested the moderating role of social support among humanitarian workers in Southwestern Uganda. A cross-sectional survey design was employed with 263 participants drawn from major humanitarian organizations. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Results revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between vicarious trauma and job performance (r = −.222, p < .01). Regression analysis indicated that intrusive thoughts significantly predicted lower job performance (β = −.135, p = .005), whereas emotional distress was not a significant independent predictor (β = −.057, p = .357). Moderation analysis demonstrated that social support significantly buffered the negative effects of vicarious trauma on job performance. These findings confirm that job demands in the form of trauma exposure impair performance, but job resources such as social support attenuate these effects. The study contributes empirical evidence from a Sub-Saharan African humanitarian context and underscores the importance of structured organizational support systems to sustain workforce resilience and productivity.