Study highlights how farm women’s multiple roles create unique mental health challenges
Farm women often carry the burden of both farm and household responsibilities, which affects their mental health. A recent study, published in the Journal of Agromedicine, sheds light on how their multiple roles, including working off-farm and raising children in hazardous environments, contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Farm women have long been central to agriculture, but their mental health has not received the attention it deserves. Most mental health research in agriculture has focused on older male farmers, leaving the unique stressors faced by women largely overlooked. This study aims to address these gaps by exploring how gender influences mental health challenges in the farming community.
The study, led by Florence Becot from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, examined farm women’s personal and professional responsibilities, farm safety, and mental health. It found that the “triple burden” – the need to balance farm work, childcare, and household duties – is a significant source of stress.
Farm women also face mental health risks due to the dangers of raising children on a farm. Farm safety research typically focuses on farm children, but the mental toll on parents, particularly mothers, has been largely ignored. The study's findings emphasize the need for more comprehensive interventions, beyond individual safety knowledge, to address structural issues such as childcare availability.
The study included focus groups with 68 women from Wisconsin, Ohio, and Vermont, as well as a photovoice activity. It concludes that interventions must go beyond safety education and tackle systemic issues like affordable childcare.
For more information about the study visit: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1059924X.2024.2427800#abstract
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