Abstract
Globally, farmers report high levels of occupational stress. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore factors associated with perceived stress among Canadian farmers. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. An online cross-sectional national survey of Canadian farmers (n = 1132) was conducted in 2015–2016 to collect data on mental health, demographic, lifestyle, and farming characteristics; stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale. A multivariable linear regression model was used to investigate the factors associated with perceived stress score. Qualitative interviews (n = 75) were conducted in 2017–2018 with farmers and agricultural sector workers in Ontario, Canada, to explore the lived experience of stress. The qualitative interview data were analyzed via thematic analysis and then used to explain and provide depth to the quantitative results. Financial stress (highest category—a lot: (B = 2.30; CI: 1.59, 3.00)), woman gender (B = 0.55; CI: 0.12, 0.99), pig farming (B = 1.07; CI: 0.45, 1.69), and perceived lack of support from family (B = 1.18; CI: 0.39, 1.98) and industry (B = 1.15; CI: 0.16–2.14) were positively associated with higher perceived stress scores, as were depression and anxiety (as part of an interaction). Resilience had a small negative association with perceived stress (B = −0.04; CI: −0.06, −0.03). Results from the qualitative analysis showed that the uncertainty around financial stress increased perceived stress. Women farmers described the unique demands and challenges they face that contributed to their overall stress. Results from this study can inform the development of mental health resources and research aimed at decreasing stress among Canadian farmers.
Highlights
There is a wide body of evidence supporting reports that high levels of psychological stress have detrimental impact on mental health, including some evidence among farming populations [1,2]
Participants who were not themselves farmers but worked with farmers in their daily roles were identified by the community as key informants to interview around the stresses they see in the farmers that they worked with
There was a negative association between resilience scores and perceived stress scores, and participants’ depression and anxiety scores had a significant modifying effect on Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores
Summary
There is a wide body of evidence supporting reports that high levels of psychological stress have detrimental impact on mental health, including some evidence among farming populations [1,2]. Results from the 2005 Canadian National Population Health Survey reported that individuals experiencing high work stress (75th percentile or higher) were. According to the Fourth European Working Conditions Survey, 32% of agricultural and fishery workers reported that stress negatively impacted their mental and physical health, which was significantly higher than other occupations (22%) [5]. Stress among farmers has been correlated with increased farm accidents and injury in Australia [6]. Within farming populations in Australia, high stress has been linked with elevated suicide rates [3]. Other studies with farmers in the United States and Australia have reported associations between high stress and withdrawal from community activities or social commitments, decreased self-esteem, physical health problems, increased substance use, and relationship break-downs [1,7]
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