Intrinsic Coping Mechanisms on Psychological Wellbeing among Health Care Workers in Emergency Units in Selected Hospitals Nyeri County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.3354Keywords:
Adversity Quotient, Psychological Well-being, Healthcare Workers, Coping SkillsAbstract
Purpose: The influence of Adversity Quotient (AQ) on the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers in emergency units within selected public hospitals in Nyeri County, Kenya. Emergency healthcare environments are characterized by high stress, trauma exposure, and resource constraints, leading to elevated risks of psychological distress, anxiety, and burnout among staff. Despite global evidence on healthcare worker mental health, the role of AQ a measure of one’s capacity to persevere through adversity remains underexplored in low-resource settings such as Kenya.
Methodology: The study aimed to examine the role of intrinsic coping skills. Grounded in Resilience Theory and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, the research employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and focus group discussions from a census sample of 220 healthcare workers across three hospitals, with a 90% response rate (n=198).
Findings: The ANOVA results (F(2,195)=59.76,p<0.001) indicate a statistically significant difference in mean Psychological Well-being scores among the three coping skill level groups. Post-hoc tests would likely confirm significant differences between all three groups, demonstrating that higher engagement in intrinsic coping skills is associated with significantly better psychological well-being. Simple linear regression was also conducted, using the composite Intrinsic Coping Skills score to predict Psychological Well-being. Regression analysis confirmed these skills as the strongest unique predictor (β = 0.34, p = .001) in the multivariate model, explaining a substantial portion of variance.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Qualitatively, workers recognized their importance but cited exhaustion and a lack of time as primary barriers to their practice during shifts. Advocate for policies that enforce work-life balance, such as strict adherence to off-duty hours and providing access to recreational facilities. Promote and fund peer support networks and mentorship programs to strengthen the stress management infrastructure that workers already rely on heavily.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Joyce Muthoni Wang’ombe, Dr. Florence S.A K’Okul, Ph.D., Dr. Susan Macharia PhD.
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