Accessibility and Ownership of Financial Accounts by Married U.S. Farm Women

Abstract

Married farm women's accessibility and ownership of farm and household credit and cash accounts was measured with a score constructed from various items in the 1980 National Farm Women Survey. The majority of women were found to be partially or not involved with the accounts, with variation among the women in regard to the degree of accessibility and ownership. Discriminant analysis indicated that farm women's education, age, and level of off‐farm income; stage of family life cycle; and the women's participation in farm decisionmaking, their perception of their farm involvement, and farm task participation distinguished between women with high scores and those with low scores. Attributes of farm women and characteristics which are unique to farm women in their interaction with their farms differentiated those who are financially involved with the farm and household accounts from those with little involvement. Farm characteristics, however, did not contribute to group differentiation.

Multiple Roles, Lifestyle Satisfaction, and Marital Happiness Among Farm Wives

“…However, it would also be expected that marital satisfaction would be lowered as well; it was not in this study. Farm families reportedly have lower separation and divorce rates than nonfarm families (Scholl, 1985), and this may be reflected in our findings. Self-report ratings of happiness may account for the high ratings.…”

“…Farm families reportedly have lower separation and divorce rates than nonfarm families(Scholl, 1985), and this may be reflected in our findings. However, it would also be expected that marital satisfaction would be lowered as well; it was not in this study.…”

“…Other studies have found very little difference in lifestyle. Separation and divorce have been found to be less common among farm families than nonfarm families (Scholl, 1985). It seems that while role responsibilities may be related to farm lifestyle satisfaction, the off-farm work role is not significant.…”

“…Thus, role loads appeared to be unpredictive of stress. Separation and divorce have been found to be less common among farm families than nonfarm families (Scholl, 1985). Yet stress in farm families appears to be on the increase and, in part, due to the wife's changing roles in farm management (Hedlund, Berkowitz, & Bennett, 1980;Weigel, 1982).…”