Economic Vulnerability and Economic Stress in Farm Couples

Spouses in 29 randomly sampled farm couples independently filled out questionnaires dealing with economic resources, economic losses in the past year, feelings of economic stress and patterns of blaming in the marriage. Agreement between spouses on the key measures of the study was good. Couples with greater economic vulnerability reported greater economic distress, although they tended to report experiencing less loss. Couples reporting greater economic distress reported greater blaming in the marriage. The economic problems of farm couples with greater economic vulnerability produce stress in these couples and increase the value for them of education and counseling services focused on relationship difficulties.