Agricultural Workers’ Perspectives on Stressors, Stress Management Topics and Support Options: A Case Study from the Western U.S

Grocke-Dewey U. Michelle (), Alison Brennan, Brenda J. Freeman, Esmeralda Mandujano, Emma Morano, Doriane Keiser and Don McMoran
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Grocke-Dewey U. Michelle: Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Alison Brennan: Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Brenda J. Freeman: Counselor Education Program/Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Esmeralda Mandujano: California AgrAbility Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Emma Morano: Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Doriane Keiser: Department of Human Development and Community Health, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Don McMoran: Skagit County Extension, Washington State University, Burlington, WA 98233, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: Agricultural workers—individuals employed for labor in agriculture—are at high risk of various negative health outcomes, with many impacted by both the existence of health disparities and stress. While the issue of farm stress and associated psychosocial health outcomes has been studied in the general agricultural population, research investigating these issues specifically within the agricultural worker population is sparse. This study presents data from the United States Western Region Agricultural Worker Stress Survey (N = 354), which gauged workers’ perceived stress levels, sources of stress, desired stress management topics, and preferred methods of receiving information and support services. Long working hours, working in extreme temperatures, and a lack of time emerged as the top three stressors. On average, workers across the Western region of the U.S. are experiencing a moderate level of stress, with younger workers reporting greater stressor pileup than their older counterparts. Retirement planning was cited as the most preferred stress management topic, regardless of demographic. Lastly, workers chose in-person counseling as the support modality that they would most likely utilize. This research provides a variety of stress management recommendations such as working with farm owners to increase the safety of their operation, investing in face-to-face counseling services, and utilizing community health workers as sources of support.

Keywords: agriculture; agricultural workers; stress; perceived stress scale; stress management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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