International Perspectives on Psychosocial Working Conditions, Mental Health, and Stress of Dairy Farm Operators

Abstract

Dairy farm operators-farmers, workers, and family members-are faced with many demands and stressors in their daily work and these appear to be shared across countries and cultures. Dairy operators experience high psychosocial demands with respect to a hard work and production ethos, economic influences, and social and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, both traditional and industrial farms are highly dependent on external conditions, such as weather, fluctuating markets, and regulations from government authorities. Possible external stressors include disease outbreaks, taxes related to dairy production, and recent negative societal attitudes to farming in general. Dairy farm operators may have very few or no opportunities to influence and control these external conditions, demands, and expectations. High work demands and expectations coupled with low control and lack of social support can lead to a poor psychosocial work environment, with increased stress levels, ill mental health, depression, and, in the worst cases, suicide. Internationally, farmers with ill mental health have different health service options depending on their location. Regardless of location, it is initially the responsibility of the individual farmer and farm family to handle mental health and stress, which can be of short- or long-term duration. This paper reviews the literature on the topics of psychosocial working conditions, mental health, stress, depression, and suicide among dairy farm operators, farm workers, and farm family members in an international perspective.

A Guide to the Design of Occupational Safety and Health Training for Immigrant, Latino/a Dairy Workers

“…For instance, financial strain, separation from family, and poor work–life balance could lead to stress and family dysfunction, which in turn could affect productivity and safety at work (21). Workers should be provided with information regarding affordable and accessible community resources and services available to help cope with some of these non-work issues (22).…”

“…Many also have limited or no previous dairy experience or foundational training on OSH and, as a result, fail to recognize the hazards in their work (7, 18–20). Immigrant workers also experience a number of unique psychosocial stressors, such as social isolation (21, 22), poverty (22–25), discrimination (15, 22), and lack of employment security (26), that need to be understood and taken into account when developing OSH programs. Such workers may be more likely to take risks at work and less likely to use safety equipment, follow safety procedures, and voice concerns about unsafe conditions (10).…”

Health Risks Faced by Turkish Agricultural Workers

“…It is also because of external factors, such as changing weather conditions, unstable/unpredictable market conditions, and constantly changing state regulations. For this reason, researchers have emphasized the necessity of developing an international program to protect and support farmers and their families, regardless of where they live [27]. It was surprising to note that the current subjects' physical, mental, and social health were not affected by economic factors, such as monthly income or ownership of land, animals, and machinery.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study of Stressors Among Farmers in Eastern North Carolina

“…Over the past 30 years, a number of research studies have examined the role that stressors play in the lives of farmers and the relationship between stressors and various health outcomes, including mental health problems [11][12][13][14], suicide [15][16][17][18], injuries [19][20], working conditions [21], job satisfaction [22], and general well-being [2,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Human stress reactions have a common physiological basis, but individuals manifest stress differently depending on their situation [8].…”