Socio-demographic Differences in Occupational Stress and Trauma among Morticians in Selected Mortuaries in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Morticians face unique occupational stressors due to their constant exposure to death, grieving families, and emotionally charged environments, predisposing them to high levels of occupational stress and trauma. This study examined socio-demographic differences in occupational stress and trauma among morticians working in selected mortuaries in Nairobi County, Kenya. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed, involving all 18 morticians from the Kenyatta University Funeral Home and the Chiromo Funeral Parlor. Participants were recruited through a census sampling technique due to the small and specialized nature of the population. Quantitative data were collected using the Work Stress Screener (WOSS-13), and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 31, employing descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to determine differences across socio-demographic variables. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings indicated that morticians experienced moderate to high levels of occupational stress, with an overall mean WOSS score of 26.6 (SD = 4.1). Single morticians reported higher stress levels (M = 27.8) than married ones (M = 25.1), and those with one to two years of experience recorded the highest levels of stress and trauma (WOSS M = 28.5; PTSD M = 32.0). Qualitative themes highlighted persistent exposure to death, emotional exhaustion, inadequate psychosocial support, and reliance on religious and acceptance-based coping. The study concluded that morticians in Nairobi experience substantial occupational stress and trauma, and recommends the implementation of structured psychosocial support programs, counseling services, and stress inoculation interventions to promote their mental well-being.