Different Reactions to Stress (News Release)

Farm operators in different situations vary in the amount of stress they experience.

Studies show these differences in the way various groups tend to experience stress:

  • Younger farmers, especially those younger than 50, report more stress than older farmers.
  • Farmers in dairy or mixed (grain and livestock) operations report higher stress levels than farmers in grain operations.
  • Farmers employed in off-farm jobs report more stress than full-time farm operators.
  • Farm women may experience additional stresses. Besides working as a full-time partner in the farm business, many farm women have full responsibility for home and family matters.

If you fall into one of these groups, learn to recognize your symptoms of stress. Common physical symptoms include headaches or stomach problems. Behavioral symptoms, such as increased smoking or drinking, also may indicate high levels of stress.

For more information about farming and stress, see a new Extension publication, Manage Stress to Increase Farm Safety, Pm-1265l. Copies are available free at any Extension office.

This newsletter item was distributed by Iowa State University Extension as part of the Safe Farm program. Safe Farm promotes health and safety in agriculture. It is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Iowa State University, and a network of groups that serve Iowa farm workers and their families. Distribution date: December 1992.

Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More

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