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Psychological Morbidity of Farmers and Non-farming Population: Results from a UK Survey

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Abstract

The relatively high rate of suicide among UK farmers suggests that they may suffer greater mental health problems than the general population. This paper provides a comparison of the psychological morbidity of farmers and their partners/spouses with non-farmers. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was administered using face-to-face interviews with 784 attendees of agricultural shows in the UK. Results show that GHQ-12 scores for farmers and their partners/spouses were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those for the non-farming population, indicating higher psychological morbidity among farmer families. Approximately 35% of farmers had scores 12 and higher (recommended cut-off for psychiatric disorders), compared to 27% of non-farmers. Within the farmers group, male respondents, those aged from 45 to 64, self-employed or not in paid employment, having a non-supervisory position and living in a rural area were characterized by higher mean GHQ-12 scores compared to correspondent subgroups from the non-farming population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, Bangor University, Dean Street Building, Dean Street, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 1UT, UK

    Barry Hounsome, Rhiannon T. Edwards & Natalia Hounsome

  2. School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

    Gareth Edwards-Jones

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  1. Barry Hounsome
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  2. Rhiannon T. Edwards
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  3. Natalia Hounsome
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  4. Gareth Edwards-Jones
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Correspondence to Barry Hounsome.

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Hounsome, B., Edwards, R.T., Hounsome, N. et al. Psychological Morbidity of Farmers and Non-farming Population: Results from a UK Survey. Community Ment Health J 48, 503–510 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9415-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9415-8

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