A new study is seeking women farmers to interview to help understand the causes and experiences of stress and happiness among women farmers. If interested, please read more on eligibility and details about the study. For additional information and to express interest in participation, contact Dr. Carly Nichols (319-467-1728, carly-nichols@uiowa.edu), Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa.

All participants must be:
– 18 years or older
– A resident of Iowa
– Identify as a woman
– An active operator of a farm in the last three years
– Willing to participate in a 60-90 minute interview about both positive and stressful
aspects of farm work

We are looking for 25-30 women to participate in these interviews representing a diverse range of ages, levels of farming experience, geographical locations, and farm types and sizes. Taking part in this research study is completely voluntary. There is no cost to participate. Participants will receive $40 Visa gift card as compensation for their time.

The interviews can be done via telephone or Zoom as well as in your home, workplace, or wherever you prefer. The interviews will last 60-90 minutes, and you are free to skip any question you do not wish to answer. There is no scheduled follow-up to this interview, but if you agree the research team may contact you in the case there is a need to clarify information or ask brief follow-up questions. No in-person research activity will be conducted while Covid-19 restrictions remain in place by the University of Iowa.

All interviews are anonymous and confidential; we will not record your name or any identifying details will not be included in written notes or transcripts. If we write a report or article about this study or share the study data set with others, we will do so in such a way that you cannot be directly identified. We hope that in the future other people might benefit from this study through generating a better understanding of the drivers and effects of occupational stress on women farmers’ well being and job performance. Such knowledge might be used to advocate for or design better services or public policies to reduce stress among women farmers.

If you are interested to participate in the study or have any questions about the research study itself, please contact the Principal Investigator conducting this study: Dr. Carly Nichols (319-467-1728, carly-nichols@uiowa.edu), Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa.