Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Young Farmers and Ranchers: A Pilot Study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agriculture has been identified as a stressful industry and there is evidence that chronic stress may contribute to the development or progression of mental health disorders, specifically anxiety and depression. Young adult farmers and ranchers may be at increased risk of mental health disorders when compared to more experienced counterparts due to additional stressors. The objectives of this study were to identify the occupational stressors of young adult farmers and ranchers in the Midwest and estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among this population. An online survey consisting of reliable and valid instruments was used to identify the sources of stress and prevalence of anxiety and depression among the young farming and ranching population. The survey included items related to stress, anxiety, depression, general health, and farm/personal demographics. A total of 170 young farmers and ranchers responded to the survey. The mean age of the sample was 28.9 (SD 4.4) years. Approximately 71% of respondents met the criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 score ≥ 5) and 53% met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (PHQ-9 score ≥ 5). Of seven presented stress domains, personal finances and time pressures were the sources of greatest concern. Personal finances, time pressures, economic conditions, and employee relations were associated with anxiety and depression. The burden of depression and anxiety is high among young adult farmers and ranchers. Stressors commonly affiliated with farming and ranching are associated with anxiety and depression. Additional research should further explore the burden of mental health disorders among the population and examine protective factors for mental illness and opportunities for interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahearn, M. (2011). Potential challenges for beginning farmers and ranchers. In CHOICES Online Magazine. Milwaukee: Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.

  • Andrilla, C. H. A., Patterson, D. G., Garberson, L. A., Coulthard, C., & Larson, E. H. (2018). Geographic variation in the supply of selected behavioral health providers. Am J Prev Med,54(6S3), S199–S207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2018). Stress. Retrieved August 7, 2018 from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/stress.

  • Barnett, P. A., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). Psychosocial functioning and depression: Distinguishing among antecedents, concomitants, and consequences. Psychological Bulletin,104, 97–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belyea, M. J., & Lobao, L. M. (1990). Psychosocial consequences of agricultural transformation: The farm crisis and depression. Rural Sociol,55, 58–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, N. J., & Lloyd, K. (2000). Stress in farmers. International Journal of Social Psychiatry,46(1), 67–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brumby, S., Chandrasekara, A., McCoombe, S., Kremer, P., & Lewandowski, P. (2012). Cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress in Australian farming communities. Australian Journal of Rural Health,20, 131–137. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2012.01273.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carruth, A. K., & Logag, C. A. (2002). Depressive symptoms in farm women: Effects of health status and farming lifestyle characteristics, behaviors, and beliefs. Journal of Community Health,27, 213–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2009). Mail and internet surveys: The tailored design method (3rd ed.). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhardt, B., & Pooyan, A. (1990). Development of the farm stress survey: Factorial structure, reliability, and validity. Educational and Psychological Measurement,50, 393–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, N. R., & Albrecht, G. A. (2017). Climate change threats to family farmers’ sense of place and mental wellbeing: A case study from the Western Australian wheatbelt. Social Science and Medicine,175, 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, C. E., Smith, K. B., Judd, F., Humphreys, J. S., Fragar, L. J., & Henderson, A. (2005). Farming and mental health problems and mental illness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry,51(4), 340–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, S. A., Schwab, C. V., & Jiang, Q. (2008). Quantifying stressors among Iowa farmers. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health,14(4), 431–439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregoire, A. (2002). The mental health of farmers. Occupational Medicine,52, 471–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Habib, K. E., Gold, P. W., & Chrousos, G. P. (2001). Neuroendocrinology of stress. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America,30(3), 695–728. (vii–viii).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, P. A., Taylor, R., Thielke, R., Payne, J., Gonzalez, N., & Conde, J. G. (2009). Research electronic data capture (REDCap): A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. Journal of Biomedical Informatics,42(2), 377–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haslam, C., Atkinson, S., Brown, S. S., & Haslam, R. A. (2005). Anxiety and depression in the workplace: Effects on the individual and organization (a focus group investigation). Journal of Affective Disorders,88(2), 209–215.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hounsome, B., Edwards, R. T., Hounsome, N., & Edwards-Jones, G. (2012). Psychological morbidity of farmers and non-farming population: Results from a UK survey. Community Mental Health Journal,48, 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9415-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones-Bitton, A., Best, C., MacTavish, J., Fleming, S., & Hoy, S. (2019). Stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience in Canadian farmers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01738-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, G. D., Rafferty, A. P., Hendricks, L. R., Allen, D. L., & Tutor-Marcom, R. (2014). A cross sectional study of stressors among farmers in Eastern North Carolina. North Carolina Medical Journal,75(6), 384–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. The Journal of General Internal Medicine,16(9), 606–613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B., Monahan, P. O., & Löwe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: Prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annals of Internal Medicine,146(5), 317–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marotz-Baden, R., & Mattheis, C. (1994). Daughters-in-law and stress in two generation farm families. Family Relations,43(2), 132–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M. I., Hine, D. W., Bhullar, N., Dunstan, D. A., & Bartik, W. (2016). Fracked: Coal seam gas extraction and farmers mental health. Journal of Environmental Psychology,47, 22–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.04.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2017). Health and Education. Retrieved August 1, 2017 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-mental-illness-ami-among-usadults.shtml.

  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2018) Any anxiety disorder among adults. Retrieved September 13, 2018 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-anxiety-disorder-among-adults.shtml.

  • O’Brien, D. J., Hassinger, E. W., & Dershem, L. (1994). Community attachment and depressive illness among residents of two rural Midwestern communities. Rural Sociology,59, 255–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, L. A., & Brody, D. J. (2014). Depression in the U.S. household population, 2009–2012. (2014). NCHS data brief, no 172. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raine, G. (1999). Causes and effects of stress on farmers: A qualitative study. Health Education Journal,58, 259–270. https://doi.org/10.1177/001789699905800307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarth, R. D., Stallones, L., Zwerling, C., & Burmeister, L. F. (2000). The prevalence of depressive symptoms and risk factors among Iowa and Colorado farmers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine,37(4), 382–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stallones, L., & Beseler, C. (2004). Safety practices and depression among farm residents. Annals of Epidemiology,14(8), 571–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of Agriculture. (2019). 2017 census of agriculture, United States summary and state data. Vol. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2019 from https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Highlights/Farm_Demographics/#fewer_women.

  • Utterback, B. (2014). Offset emotional marketing. Farm Journal.

  • Walter, J. (2018). Help wanted: How farmers are tackling a labor shortage. Successful Farming. Retrieved October 13, 2018 from https://www.agriculture.com/farm-management/estate-planning/help-wanted-how-farmers-are-tackling-a-labor-shortage.

  • Wang, P. S., Lane, M., Olfson, M., Pincus, H. A., Wells, K. B., & Kessler, R. C. (2005). Twelve-month use of mental health services in the United States: Results from the national comorbidity study replication. Archives of General Psychiatry,62(6), 629–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weigel, R. R., Weigel, D. J., & Blundall, J. (1987). Stress, coping, and satisfaction: Generational differences in farm families. Family Relations,36(1), 45–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (U54 O010162) for funding this project. We are indebted to the farmers who participated in this survey and thank the Farm Bureau Young Farmer/Rancher/Agriculturalist organizations for sharing the survey with their members. Additionally, we thank the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield Clinic Health System, for their research support.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (NIOSH U54 O010162).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, 1304 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Josie M. Rudolphi

  2. Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, USA

    Richard L. Berg

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI, USA

    Ajay Parsaik

Authors
  1. Josie M. Rudolphi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard L. Berg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ajay Parsaik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josie M. Rudolphi.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rudolphi, J.M., Berg, R.L. & Parsaik, A. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Young Farmers and Ranchers: A Pilot Study. Community Ment Health J 56, 126–134 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00480-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00480-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation