Agriculture is a stressful occupation, and farmers struggle with anxiety and depression at higher levels than the general population. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examines differences in mental health challenges for men and women farmers, focusing on the role of social support in mitigating stress. "We were interested in understanding depression and anxiety among Illinois farmers, and we wanted to bring attention to social support and location, especially with regard to gender.
When we think about mental health and agriculture, we also want to think about the person in a broader context. In addition to what they find stressful, what are the supports and the ways of coping that people might have? Our findings draw out some of the intricacies in these relationships," said study co-author Courtney Cuthbertson, Illinois Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois. The researchers surveyed 536 Illinois farmers — about 70% men and 30% women — who were primary owners of a farming operation.
The participants responded to questions about agricultural stress, mental health, social support, and resilience, as well as demographics and farm characteristics. They found that 34% of respondents met the criteria for at least mild anxiety disorder and 26% met the criteria for at least mild symptoms of depression, co.