A Cross-Sectional Study on Mental Health Burden Among Austrian Farmers: Sociodemographic, Work-Related, and Health Behavior Factors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although previous studies point to a high mental health burden in farmers, little is known about mental health in Austrian farmers, especially about factors associated with poor mental health.

METHODS

We assessed mental health in Austrian farmers and explored potential risk factors for poor mental health. A total of N = 2006 farmers (38.5% women; 61.4% men; a distribution closely mirroring the Austrian farming population) with a mean age of 45.04 ± 10.31 years took part in an online survey from October 2024 to February 2025 in which validated screening tools for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep disorders (ISI-2), perceived stress (PSS-4), and alcohol abuse (CAGE) were applied. Gender, alongside other sociodemographic, work-related, and behavioral variables, was included as a predictor in multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

We found that higher adjusted odds for exceeding cut-offs for clinically relevant mental health symptoms were associated with female gender, younger age, single individuals, physical inactivity outside the profession, smartphone usage, higher working hours, and financial insecurity.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study highlights the complex interplay between sociodemographic factors, work-related variables, and health behaviors in determining the mental health outcomes of Austrian farmers. Targeted interventions that address risk factors, such as promoting physical activity and providing business/economic support, could help mitigate the mental health challenges faced by farmers.