Age, Experience, and Professional Category Differences in Stress, Coping, and Wellbeing: A Multigroup ANOVA and Interaction Analysis

Abstract

Background: The psychological wellbeing of nurses and midwives is increasingly threatened by occupational stress. However, limited attention has been given to how demographic characteristics such as age, years of service, and professional category influence their experience of stress, coping strategies, and overall wellbeing, especially in sub-Saharan African contexts.

Objective: This study investigated group differences and interaction effects of age, professional experience, and professional category on occupational stress, coping strategies, and psychological wellbeing among nurses and midwives in Catholic health facilities in Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study design was used. Data were collected from 287 nurses and midwives selected through stratified sampling across four hospitals. Standardized scales were used to measure occupational stress, coping strategies, and psychological wellbeing. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and post hoc ANOVAs were conducted to assess main and interaction effects of demographic variables on the three psychological outcomes.

Results: Significant multivariate effects were observed for age, years of service, and professional category (p < .01). Younger respondents reported significantly higher stress levels and lower coping and wellbeing scores compared to older groups. Midwives reported better psychological wellbeing than nurses (F = 7.534, p = .007), while coping improved with years of service (F = 4.167, p = .006). Significant interaction effects were found between age and professional category on wellbeing, and between years of service and category on coping.

Conclusion: Demographic factors substantially influence how nurses and midwives experience and respond to occupational stress. Younger, less experienced nurses are more vulnerable to poor psychological outcomes. These findings support the need for tailored mental health interventions and workforce policies that consider demographic-specific risks and protective factors to enhance resilience and wellbeing within the healthcare sector.

Keywords: Occupational stress, Coping strategies, Psychological wellbeing, Age, Years of service, Workforce mental health