The survey aimed to understand current levels of physical and mental health and wellbeing among women living and/or working on farms within England and Wales, and to begin exploring how these might be associated with a range of personal characteristics and aspects of life in agriculture.
While our initial results clearly reveal many concerning issues, we believe our research also provides clarity on actions that can positively influence women moving forward.
Our research identified significant challenges. Women on farms in England and Wales reported notably higher levels of stress and anxiety than the general population, along with lower subjective mental wellbeing. Of particular concern is the finding that women aged 45 and under experienced significantly worse psychological outcomes than their older counterparts in farming.