Stressors and Symptoms Predictive of Distress in Farmers

In a study of 130 occupations, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ranked farming among the 10 most stressful occupations (Smith, Colligan, & Hurrel, 1977). Although farmers and professionals working with farm families are beginning to address the subject of farm stress, there is only a relatively limited empirical literature on the topic of stress in farm families. [See Hedlund & Berkowitz (1978) for a review.]