A Scoping Review of Tools to Assess Psychosocial Stress in Humanitarian Aid Workers

Abstract: This study presents a scoping review of tools to assess psychosocial stress in humanitarian aid workers, with a particular focus on the third version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III), and an overview of interventions to address work-related stress in this population. The databases Lubsearch and PsycInfo were searched for journal publications reporting on the validity of the COPSOQ as well as assessments or interventions for humanitarian aid workers experiencing work-related stress. Articles that met the aims were included in the review. The scoping review yielded four articles for each respective research question. The results showed acceptable psychometrics for the COPSOQ with some exceptions, as well as limited alternative assessment tools, and few studies detailing interventions for humanitarian aid workers. Further validation studies of assessment tools for work-related stress in humanitarian aid workers is warranted, as well-controlled trials of interventions designed to reduce such stress.