Women involved in agriculture face a range of stressors as their roles expand across farm operations, off-farm employment and family responsibilities, Rebecca McFarland said during a webinar hosted by the Kansas Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
McFarland, district director and family and community wellness agent with Kansas State University’s Extension Frontier District, discussed stress, resilience and strategies for managing the challenges associated with agricultural life.
McFarland said women are increasingly involved in every aspect of farming. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports 1.2 million female producers, representing about 36% of the nation’s 3.4 million producers. More than half of United States farms, or 56%, have a female producer.
A third shift
As women have taken on more responsibilities in farm operations, McFarland said some also maintain jobs away from the farm while continuing to manage household and family responsibilities.
“Women have home, family, and farm,” McFarland said. “The pressure of an off-the-farm job compounds that stress.”
She described the combination as a “third shift,” adding another layer of responsibility to women who may already be balancing farm and family roles.
Rural women also report higher levels of depression and anxiety than their urban counterparts, McFarland said, citing American Psychological Association information. She said rural women may be more likely to discuss their partner’s health than their own and may overlook their own well-being.
Women in agriculture can also experience stress related to gender expectations and stereotypes, including perceptions about who should make farm decisions and who should handle household responsibilities. McFarland also identified limited access to farm loans and intergenerational tensions, particularly among daughters-in-law, as potential stressors.
Stress responses
Stress affects individuals differently, and what stresses one person might not have the same effect on someone else, McFarland said.
“Stress is our body’s natural response to threatening or demanding circumstances,” she explained.
She distinguished between positive, acute and chronic stress. Agriculture can create chronic stress because of ongoing financial concerns, relationship or work issues, markets and weather.
Recognizing physical, emotional and behavioral signs of stress is an important step in managing it, McFarland said. Symptoms can include muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, changes in thoughts and feelings, and effects on relationships.
“Be careful what you tell yourselves because what you tell yourselves really does impact our mood and behavior,” she added.
McFarland discussed differences in how men and women may respond to stress. She said men often tend to think through problems and seek solutions without discussing them, while women may be more likely to talk through problems and seek social support.
“When things get rough on the farm, women talk more and men talk less,” McFarland quoted Ted Matthews as saying.
Social connections can provide an important source of support, McFarland said.
“When life gets hard, life gets challenging, we may want to isolate or be alone, but really, it is important for us to be with others and to share those challenges in life and talk through things,” she said.
Managing stress
McFarland recommended several strategies for maintaining mental and physical health, including eating nutritious food, drinking enough water, incorporating physical activity into the day, maintaining a sense of humor, and getting adequate sleep.
She also encouraged making time for hobbies and other activities that provide restoration, keeping a gratitude journal, setting boundaries, and learning to say no when necessary.
Another strategy is distinguishing between circumstances people can control to those they cannot, McFarland said. She encouraged people to list their sources of stress and identify ones beyond their control.
“Not all problems can be solved, and not all situations can be changed as well,” she said. “When things are beyond our control, the most productive step is to accept it.”
Weather, commodity prices and other people’s opinions are examples of stressors individuals cannot control, she said. Accepting those limitations can allow people to focus their time and energy on situations they can influence.
Taking time away from the farm is another part of managing stress, she said, even when stepping away can be difficult.
“Take time away from the farm,” McFarland said. “For your own health and well-being, you must do that.”
Seek help before a crisis
She also encouraged farm families to maintain strong relationships, share concerns with others, and seek professional help before a situation becomes a crisis. She emphasized the importance of recognizing stress early and taking steps to address it rather than waiting for a crisis.
McFarland said professional assistance can be useful during particularly difficult periods, even if it is not needed on an ongoing basis.
Resources discussed during the webinar included K-State Extension stress management resources, Kansas Ag Mediation Services, Kansas Farm Management, K-State’s Ag Transitions program, Kansas AgrAbility, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
(Photo by Julia Kimmerle via Pexels.)
