When Fear Undermines Work: How Terrorism Anxiety Affects Employee Performance

What is it about?

This study examines how employees’ perceptions of terrorism threats influence their job performance, focusing on job-related anxiety as a key explanatory mechanism and religiousness as a mitigating personal resource. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the authors argue that when employees perceive a high likelihood of terrorism, they experience emotional strain and anxiety that drain their psychological resources, reducing their capacity to perform effectively. Using multisource, time-lagged data collected from employees and supervisors in Pakistan, the findings show that job-related anxiety is a primary reason why perceptions of terrorism threat reduce job performance. However, employees’ religiousness lessens this detrimental effect: individuals with strong religious beliefs are better equipped to manage anxiety and maintain performance levels in threatening environments. The results further show that the negative influence of terrorism threat through anxiety becomes weaker among employees with stronger religious faith. For organizations operating in regions exposed to terrorism risks, these results underscore the importance of supporting employees’ religious and spiritual well-being. Encouraging practices that help employees draw on their faith can help sustain both psychological stability and job performance in volatile environments.

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Photo by Chris Henry on Unsplash

Photo by Chris Henry on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is unique in empirically linking terrorism-induced fear, job-related anxiety, and religiousness within a work performance framework. By identifying anxiety as the main channel and faith as a protective factor, it highlights both the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of employees under threat. The study is timely as geopolitical instability and global terrorism concerns continue to affect workplaces. In focusing on the Pakistani context, it offers valuable insights into how employees in high-risk regions draw upon their religious faith to preserve performance and psychological balance amid uncertainty.