Identifying and Describing Mental Health Stigma Among Agricultural Youth Directors: Does Stigma Influence Practices?

Objectives: This exploratory study aims to: 1) evaluate mental health stigma levels among agricultural youth directors, 2) examine the influence of professional characteristics on stigma, and 3) investigate the relationship between agricultural youth directors' stigma levels and their self-efficacy.

Methods: An online survey was administered from March to May 2022 to 642 agricultural youth directors in Illinois who work with youth aged 1-19. Directors' personal and perceived stigmas toward mental illness were measured using the Depression Stigma Scale.

Substance Use Among Illinois Farmers.

Background:  People in agriculture face unique stressors and occupational hazards, and relatively little is known about substance use in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe substance use among farmers in Illinois.

Methods:  We conducted a mail survey of Illinois farmers that included the Brief ASSIST to assess substance use for lifetime and past three-month use of ten different substances.

Stress, Mental Health, and Risk-Taking: Associations among a Sample of Agricultural Adolescents.

Farm stress and mental health research has largely focused on adult producers, even though youths live and work on farms. The purpose of this study is to describe the stress and mental health experience of agricultural youths and describe participation in risk-taking behaviors. Farm families in the U.

A Comparison between Farm-Related Stress, Mental Health, and Social Support between Men and Women Farmers.

Agricultural producers have worse mental health than the general population; however, recent research has not considered differences in stressors and mental health conditions by gender. A survey was mailed to a random sample of farmers in Illinois to screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression and identify sources of stress and social support. Men experienced more stress related to environmental and economic conditions than women, while women tended to have slightly higher levels of geographic isolation stress than men.

Summary of Roadway Incidents Involving Farm Equipment in Five Midwestern States Using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Roadway incidents involving farm equipment is a growing area of concern among agricultural safety and health and public health professionals. The aim of this project was to evaluate the usefulness of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and analyze the number of roadway fatal incidents that involve farm equipment. Data collected from the FARS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was used to summarize roadway incidents involving farm equipment.

Swine industry stakeholders' perception on the use of water-based foam as an emergency mass depopulation method.

The U.S. pork supply chain is vulnerable to various internal and external threats and in need of prompt, comprehensive response plans.

Mental health of agricultural adolescents and adults: Preliminary results of a five-year study.

Background: Work-related stressors common to agriculture have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes among adult farmers and ranchers. However, the mental health status of agricultural youth is unknown, despite farm and ranch youth being exposed to the same occupational hazards as their adult counterparts. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety among farm adults and their adolescent child and examine the correlation between symptoms of mental health conditions and financial indicators described in the Family Stress Model (FSM).

Agricultural Producers' and Stakeholders' Perceived Effectiveness and Participation in COVID-19 Protective Behaviors.

This study was designed to identify the perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 protective behaviors and participation in COVID-19 protective behaviors among agricultural producers and stakeholders in the Midwest, United States. A questionnaire was disseminated online to agricultural producers and stakeholders in April-July 2020. Respondents (N = 1,876) shared their perceptions of the effectiveness of COVID-19 protective behaviors and participation in those behaviors.

From believers to skeptics: Latent class analysis of COVID-19 protective practices and perceptions among agricultural community members.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify homogenous groups of agricultural producers and stakeholders based on their perceptions of effectiveness and use of COVID-19 protective behaviors.

Methods: We conducted an online survey of agricultural producers and stakeholders through Qualtrics. Participants responded to 7 statements about COVID-19 protective behavior effectiveness and 7 statements about participation in COVID-19 protective behaviors in the previous 2 weeks.

A Test of Social Cognitive Theory to Increase Hearing Protection Use in Swine Buildings.

Farming ranks among the top occupations for which workers are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), an irreversible yet preventable condition. Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) (i.e.

Broadening Our Understanding of Farm Children's Risk Exposure by Considering Their Parents' Farming Background.

While farm safety researchers have seldom considered the association between farm parents' background and their children's safety, researchers who have compared first- and multi-generation farmers have found differences that may shape safety outcomes. We draw on the farm safety and family farm bodies of literature and a survey of 203 United States farm parents to assess the role of farming background in farm children risk exposure. Exploratory in nature, the bivariate analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between first- and multi-generation farmers in children injury, agricultural safety perceptions, knowledge, and practices but revealed differences in key demographic characteristics and parenting styles.

Injuries and illnesses to children in commercial fishing in Alaska: A brief report.

Background: Commercial fishing is the most hazardous occupation in the United States. While the epidemiology of adult injuries and fatalities are well documented, injuries to children (<18 years old) are not described. The purpose of this report was to describe the characteristics of nonfatal injuries to children involved in commercial fishing.

Fatal farm injuries to Canadian children.

Children on Canadian farms are at high risk for fatal injury. Ongoing surveillance of these deaths is required to affirm recurrent patterns of injury, and to determine whether historical approaches to prevention have resulted in declines in the occurrence of these traumatic events. We analyzed epidemiological patterns and trends in the occurrence of fatal pediatric farm injuries over 23 years.

Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Among Organic Farmer Mothers.

: Rates of organic farms and women organic farmers are increasing. Yet, this recent surge brings new and uncertain challenges for injury epidemiology. Since many in the population are of child-bearing age, and child agricultural injury is a significant threat, of particular relevance are the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards risk of child injury.

Who and How: Exploring the Preferred Senders and Channels of Mental Health Information for Wisconsin Farmers.

Unfavorable economic and environmental conditions have fueled the development of mental health resources and services for farmers. However, it is unclear who farmers want mental health information from (senders) and how they want mental health information delivered (channels). A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the preferred senders of mental health information and the preferred channels of mental health information.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Young Farmers and Ranchers: A Pilot Study.

Agriculture has been identified as a stressful industry and there is evidence that chronic stress may contribute to the development or progression of mental health disorders, specifically anxiety and depression. Young adult farmers and ranchers may be at increased risk of mental health disorders when compared to more experienced counterparts due to additional stressors. The objectives of this study were to identify the occupational stressors of young adult farmers and ranchers in the Midwest and estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among this population.

Farmers' Mental Health: Perceptions from a Farm Show.

: Current economic and environmental conditions have increased awareness of farmers' mental health. Agribusiness professionals may be important key informants to assist agricultural safety and health professionals in understanding the mental health experience of farmers and inform their potential role in mental health promotion. The objectives of this study were to explore agribusiness personnel's perceptions of their farmer clients' mental health and their perceived role in mental health promotion.

Social and Individual Influences on Tractor Operating Practices of Young Adult Agricultural Workers.

Purpose: Tractor-related incidents are the leading cause of agricultural-related fatalities in the United States. Injuries from rollovers can be prevented by equipping tractors with rollover protective structures (ROPS, an engineering approach) and by using seatbelts (a behavior-based approach). While adult farmers report low seatbelt use and frequent use of tractors without ROPS, it is unknown whether the young adult population has adopted similar tractor driving practices.

Toward a national core course in agricultural medicine and curriculum in agricultural safety and health: the "building capacity" consensus process.

ABSTRACT The agricultural industry poses specific hazards and risks to its workers. Since the 1970s, the University of Iowa has been establishing programs to educate rural health care and safety professionals who in turn provide education and occupational health and safety services to farm families and farm workers. This program has been well established in the state of Iowa as a program of Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH).

Increasing the number of trained health and safety professionals in agricultural medicine: evaluation of the "building capacity" program, 2007-2013.

ABSTRACT The University of Iowa began training health care professionals to care for farmers' occupational health needs since 1974. In order to geographically expand this training to practicing health and safety professionals, the "Building Capacity: A National Resource of Agricultural Medicine Professionals" program was developed and launched in 2006. The model began in 1987 as a program of Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health.