Date of Award

7-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

Abstract

Anxiety-related diagnoses are the most rapidly rising mental health problem in the United States today. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety in a cross section of North Dakota farm operators. The effects of the independent variables of debt, employment of spouse, years in farming, intergenerational farming, education and social support systems and the dependent variable of anxiety were also examined.

Anxiety was measured in a stratified, random sample of the 32,000 farm operators in North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service's data base with the Zung Self-Rated Anxiety Scale (SAS). A questionnaire seeking demographic data with the Zung (SAS) was mailed to the subjects with a return of 1205 (39.4%) responses from North Dakota farm operators.

Results of the survey revealed that anxiety in farm operators in North Dakota during the spring of 1995 was within normal limits with a mean Zung SAS of 34.07 (SD = 8.695). The prevalence rate of anxiety in North Dakota farm operators was 35.4%, more than twice the rate of anxiety disorders in National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Areas. Debt was found to increase anxiety in farm operators (p = 0001, df = 3, 1089, p < . 05). Farm operators whose spouse worked off the farm full time exhibited greater anxiety than farm operators whose spouse worked part time off the farm or not at all (p = . 0009, df = 2, 975, p < . 05).

Analysis of the support system that the farm operator indicated, revealed that farm operators who indicated support systems of family, neighbor, or other professions, such as clergy, physician or health professionals had less anxiety. When the farm operators indicated spouse or significant other, no effect on farm operator anxiety was found. Years in farming and intergenerational farming had no effect on farm operator anxiety.

Farm operators who had post-high school education exhibited less anxiety than farm operators who had attended or graduated from secondary education (r = - 0.1496, n = 1032, p = . 000). Farm operators who indicated 3 or more support systems exhibited less anxiety than farm operators who indicated 1 or no support systems (p = . 0049, df = 3, 1060, p < . 05).

A prevalence rate of anxiety of 35.4% in North Dakota farm operators as well as an increase in anxiety in farm operators whose spouse work full time off the farm and farm operators who indicate few social support systems provide support for health prevention and health intervention programs for the North Dakota Rural Mental Health Consortium. These data indicate risk factors which result in increased anxiety in farm operators.

Download

Share

COinS