Comparing Stress, Coping Mechanisms, and Suicidal Ideation in Beginner and Experienced Farmers in GA
Abstract
Background: The suicide rate among farmers is much higher than that of the overall working population. Literature on farmer mental health in Georgia has been scarce and mostly focused on farmer suicide. Literature that does focus on stressors or coping, are mostly qualitative studies. This study looks at the influence of being a beginner farmer (less than 10 years of experience) on farm-related stressors and coping mechanisms.
Methods: This cross-sectional study inventories mental well-being, stressors, and coping mechanisms for different types of farmers in GA, USA. The online survey ran from January 2022 through April 2022. Participants (N=1,328) were asked demographics, household composition, work descriptors, healthcare access, specific stressors, stress levels, and coping mechanisms.
Results: Two-thirds of our sample consisted of beginner farmers (68%). Beginner farmers had a higher stress score on average, as well as being more likely to feel scared to lose their job significant income or their farm, feel unhappy with their role, feel lonely, feel sad or depressed, and feel hopeless. They are also more likely to have suicidal ideation in the past year. Beginner farmers have more stressors they worry about, and they are also more intensely worried about them. Various financial issues were among the top stressors, which coincides with their lower household income, more likely to have farming as their only source of income, needing more bill payment assistance, and them having less likely to have all types of insurance except for crop insurance. Beginner farmers used fewer coping mechanisms on average.
Conclusion: Beginner farmers experience more stress and exhibit more risk factors than experienced farmers, even though farming in general is already a stressful occupation.
Keywords
mental health, suicide, agriculture, coping, stress
Comparing Stress, Coping Mechanisms, and Suicidal Ideation in Beginner and Experienced Farmers in GA
Background: The suicide rate among farmers is much higher than that of the overall working population. Literature on farmer mental health in Georgia has been scarce and mostly focused on farmer suicide. Literature that does focus on stressors or coping, are mostly qualitative studies. This study looks at the influence of being a beginner farmer (less than 10 years of experience) on farm-related stressors and coping mechanisms.
Methods: This cross-sectional study inventories mental well-being, stressors, and coping mechanisms for different types of farmers in GA, USA. The online survey ran from January 2022 through April 2022. Participants (N=1,328) were asked demographics, household composition, work descriptors, healthcare access, specific stressors, stress levels, and coping mechanisms.
Results: Two-thirds of our sample consisted of beginner farmers (68%). Beginner farmers had a higher stress score on average, as well as being more likely to feel scared to lose their job significant income or their farm, feel unhappy with their role, feel lonely, feel sad or depressed, and feel hopeless. They are also more likely to have suicidal ideation in the past year. Beginner farmers have more stressors they worry about, and they are also more intensely worried about them. Various financial issues were among the top stressors, which coincides with their lower household income, more likely to have farming as their only source of income, needing more bill payment assistance, and them having less likely to have all types of insurance except for crop insurance. Beginner farmers used fewer coping mechanisms on average.
Conclusion: Beginner farmers experience more stress and exhibit more risk factors than experienced farmers, even though farming in general is already a stressful occupation.
