A cross-sectional study of stressors among farmers in Eastern North Carolina.
BACKGROUND
Agriculture is a hazardous, stressful occupation that can adversely affect farmers' health. Identifying stressors among farmers may help health professionals improve health outcomes by developing targeted intervention strategies and services.


METHODS
Over a 4-month period, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 128 farmers in an economically disadvantaged, 29-county region of Eastern North Carolina. We used a modified version of the Farm Ranch Stress Inventory to measure farmers' self-reported reactions to potential stressors.


RESULTS
The majority of farmers surveyed were aged 40-59 years, had farmed for more than 20 years, and worked more than 40 hours per week on the farm. Large proportions of respondents identified the following factors as 'very stressful': concern about the weather (60.2%), concern over the future of the farm (29.7%), outsiders not understanding the nature of farming (25.2%), problems with machinery (23.4%), market prices for crops/livestock (45.3%), taxes (38.3%), health care costs (32.5%), and not having enough time to spend with family in recreation (13.3%). Experiencing 8 or more factors as "very stressful" was found to be positively associated with working more than 40 hours per week on the farm (P = .008) and with being a farm manager or a farm worker who does not operate equipment (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Information about perceived stressors among farmers may help health professionals develop targeted interventions for reducing stress. More research is needed to better evaluate health outcomes, to reduce farm-related injuries, and to improve psychosocial well-being.
Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. kearneyg@ecu.edu.
Gregory D
GD
Kearney
Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Ann P
AP
Rafferty
Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Lauren R
LR
Hendricks
Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Daniel Landon
DL
Allen
North Carolina Agromedicine Institute; AgriSafe Network of North Carolina, Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Robin
R
Tutor-Marcom
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000383:Agriculture; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult