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

## TL;DR

This study examines mental health issues among Austrian farmers and identifies factors like gender, age, and work conditions that contribute to poor mental health.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into mental health risk factors specific to Austrian farmers using a large, representative sample.

## Key findings

- Female farmers, younger individuals, and those with financial insecurity had higher odds of poor mental health.
- Longer working hours and physical inactivity were linked to increased mental health symptoms.
- Smartphone usage and being single were also associated with higher mental health risks.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.