Farming, finance and family: factors associated with anxiety, depression and stress among Western Australian farmers
Abstract
Farming is a challenging, stressful and rewarding occupation involving many factors that are beyond farmers’ control. The aim of this study was to investigate correlates associated with the anxiety, depression and stress of farmers in Western Australia. Farmers and farm residents (N = 124) completed an online survey assessing anxiety, depression, stress, farming stressors, social supports, coping strategies and sense of belonging. Higher financial/external trade and societal pressures, family/relationship tension, use of coping strategies such as self-blame, venting, disengagement and planning, lack of succession planning and considering selling the farm, and lower social support and sense of belonging, were associated with higher anxiety, depression and/or stress. The findings highlight the specific impacts of financial and family pressures on poorer mental health status among farmers. Clinical and community interventions that build on naturally occurring strengths, such as family support and community connectedness, are needed.
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Riethmuller, M. L., McEvoy, P. M., & Newnham, E. A. (2025) · Journal of Rural Studies · doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103657 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationRiethmuller, M. L., Newnham, E. A., & McEvoy, P. M. (2024) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117381 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Riethmuller, M. L., Newnham, E. A., Dzidic, P. L., & McEvoy, P. M.
- Affiliations
- Curtin University (AU)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Riethmuller, Micaela L
- Venue
- Health Promotion International
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2024-06-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 3
- ISSN
- 0957-4824 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2245
- OpenAlex
- W4400152013
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 0.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Promotion International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Keywords
- farmer mental health, anxiety, depression, stress, financial stress, family conflict, coping strategies, social support, sense of belonging, farm succession planning, farm sales, Western Australia
- MeSH terms
- Farmers, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Agriculture, Anxiety, Depression, Family, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Western Australia
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