Farming stress isn't limited to the farmer, a new study looks at the demands of farming on adolescents and their parents

Most farming mental health resources are for adults, not children.
(Photo by Katie Humphreys, Farm Journal)

Numerous studies have proven that farmers are no strangers to stress. The number of unexpected triggers, from weather to tariffs to fertilizer prices, can prove mentally exhausting. But what hasn't been researched as much is the role stress plays on farmers' families.

A new study from the University of Illinois sets out to address that knowledge gap by exploring "how economic stressors affect the mental health of U.S. farmers and their adolescent children," reports Jennifer Shike of Farm Journal. "With many young people growing up on a farm and participating in agricultural work, it's time to look at how stress affects kids, too, says Josie Rudolphi, assistant professor in the U of I Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering."

"We've long acknowledged the inherent hazards of this work environment, and now we're also recognizing its impact on mental health," Rudolphi told Shike. "Most of the work on farm stress and mental health primarily focuses on adult farmers. However, it is important to recognize that children are fully aware of what's happening on the farm, and they are not immune to the stressors that exist."

Rudolphi and co-author Richard Berg used the Farm Stress Model to "examine the correlation between economic stressors and mental health in farmers," Shike explains. "Rudolphi and Berg discovered about 60% of both adults and adolescents met the criteria for at least mild depression, while 55% of the adults and 45% of the adolescents met the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder." Rudolphi told her: "Prevalence of depression in the general population is typically around 17% to 18%, so these numbers are quite high."

When everyone works at home, it's harder for families to detach from farming business and relax together. Rudolphi told Shike: "It's not unexpected for children to be affected by the experiences of adults. In many other settings, adults can leave work, return home, and transition into their roles as parents. But in a farm environment, the boardroom table is the kitchen table, and there is talk about farm activity in the household. There's a blur between work and family, or business and residence, so it becomes rather complicated."

"One of the most important findings in the current study is the strong correlation between adult depression and adolescent depression, Rudolphi points out. This [finding] underscores the need to develop resources and services for the entire farm family," Shike reports. "Although there is a growing library of mental health resources available for farmers, they mostly target the owner-operators. Not kids. 'We must also consider the well-being of spouses and children on the farm,' Rudolphi says. 'The agricultural environment prides itself on looking out for one another. We should harness that shared responsibility to foster a sense of community and support for young people. This involves engaging with rural schools, teachers, coaches, and agricultural youth leaders in mental health awareness initiatives.'"