Stress and Suicidal Ideation Among First-Generation Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Study with 1,288 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 first-generation farmer 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=1,281) were asked demographics, household composition, work descriptors, healthcare access, specific stressors, stress levels, and coping mechanisms.
Results: Two-thirds of our sample consisted of first-generation farmers. First-generation farmers had a higher stress score on average, as well as being more likely to feel scared to lose the farm, feel unhappy with their role, feel lonely, feel sad or depressed, and feel hopeless. They also showed less diverse coping mechanisms than generational farmers, while having alcohol in their top 3 of coping mechanisms for stress. They were more likely to draw/paint or meditate, and to kick or hit themselves/objects. Alarmingly, first-generation farmers were also much more likely to have suicidal ideation: 9% daily, and 61% at least once in the past year (vs generational: 1% daily; 20% once in the past year). Binary logistic regression indicated that having more diverse coping mechanisms is a protective factor against suicidal ideation within the previous year. The same model indicated that being farm owner, or farm manager, being first generation, being unhappy with one’s role, feeling sad or depressed, and feeling hopeless were all risk factors.
Conclusion: First-generation farmers experience more stress and exhibit more risk factors than generational farmers, even though farming in general is already a stressful occupation
Keywords
mental health, suicide, agriculture, coping, stress
Stress and Suicidal Ideation Among First-Generation Farmers: A Cross-Sectional Study with 1,288 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 first-generation farmer 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=1,281) were asked demographics, household composition, work descriptors, healthcare access, specific stressors, stress levels, and coping mechanisms.
Results: Two-thirds of our sample consisted of first-generation farmers. First-generation farmers had a higher stress score on average, as well as being more likely to feel scared to lose the farm, feel unhappy with their role, feel lonely, feel sad or depressed, and feel hopeless. They also showed less diverse coping mechanisms than generational farmers, while having alcohol in their top 3 of coping mechanisms for stress. They were more likely to draw/paint or meditate, and to kick or hit themselves/objects. Alarmingly, first-generation farmers were also much more likely to have suicidal ideation: 9% daily, and 61% at least once in the past year (vs generational: 1% daily; 20% once in the past year). Binary logistic regression indicated that having more diverse coping mechanisms is a protective factor against suicidal ideation within the previous year. The same model indicated that being farm owner, or farm manager, being first generation, being unhappy with one’s role, feeling sad or depressed, and feeling hopeless were all risk factors.
Conclusion: First-generation farmers experience more stress and exhibit more risk factors than generational farmers, even though farming in general is already a stressful occupation
