Zolinda Stoneman’s research while affiliated with University of Georgia and other places

Farming is a male-dominated occupation, with gendered responsibilities evident on the family farm. The gendered construction of agricultural work roles carries over into parenting. Farm mothers have primary childcare responsibilities, but fathers usually oversee the most dangerous youth farm work, namely work around large equipment. This study examined mothers’ and fathers’ work and family roles on family commodity farms, as well as risk-taking propensity, safety perceptions, and perceptions of youth injury vulnerability. Participants were 248 farm parents (124 married couples) with a youth aged 9–19 yrs. Mothers were less likely than fathers to operate tractors, less confident and self-efficacious related to keeping their youth safe, and less knowledgeable about farm safety. Off-farm employment of mothers had little effect on their home or farm responsibilities. Fathers, but not mothers, believed boys could safely operate equipment at younger ages than girls. Unexpectedly, mothers perceived less injury vulnerability to youth than did fathers. For mothers and fathers, younger youth age, lower risk-taking, lower safety self-efficacy, and greater knowledge about farm safety predicted higher perceptions of youth injury vulnerability. For mothers, experience operating tractors predicted lower perceptions of youth vulnerability. Mothers often deferred to fathers when making decisions related to youth use of farm equipment. Mothers’ gendered roles and limited opportunity to gain farm safety knowledge may compromise their ability to work jointly with their husbands to keep youth safe on the farm. There is a need for communities to provide farm safety education to women who jointly farm with their husbands.

Background Youth live in the agricultural workplace and are at risk of injury and death on the family farm. Fathers usually oversee the most dangerous youth farm work, namely work around large equipment. Less is known about the safety roles and beliefs of mothers. This study examined differences between mothers and fathers in their work and family roles on the family farm, as well as differences in risk-taking, safety perceptions and knowledge, and perceptions of youth injury risk. Methods Participants were 248 farm parents (124 married couples) with a youth aged 9–19 yrs. Families lived on farms growing row crops in the Southeastern U.S. Mothers and fathers completed study questionnaires. Results Mothers were less likely than fathers to operate tractors and large equipment, had lower safety self-efficacy, less confidence and perceptions of control related to keeping their youth safe, less safety training, and less knowledge about farm safety. As compared to fathers, mothers believed that youth should be older before being allowed to work with and operate farm equipment. Unexpectedly, mothers perceived less injury risk to youth than did fathers. Fathers were greater risk-takers than were mothers. For both mothers and fathers, higher risk-taking was associated with less perceived youth injury risk. When asked about decision-making related to youth’s use of farm equipment, mothers often deferred to fathers. Conclusions Study findings suggest that on family farms growing row crops in the Southeastern U.S., mothers perceive less injury risk to their youth than do fathers. Gendered labour patterns and limited access to agricultural networks and training constrain women’s knowledge about farm safety, especially related to large equipment. These factors may compromise the ability of some women to work jointly with their husbands to keep their youth safe. There is a need for communities to provide farm safety education designed for women, as well as men.

Background Family farms are unique in that children live in the midst of a dangerous workplace. Farm youth continue to experience high rates of injuries and premature deaths as a result of agricultural activities. Increased parental permissiveness has been known to be positively associated with high-risk behaviour in youth, including more frequent sexual activity, elevated pregnancy-rates, and risky driving behaviours. This study explored whether lax-inconsistent or permissive parenting (fathering and mothering) predicts youth unsafe behaviours on the farm. Methods This study was a part of a larger family-based randomised control intervention study focused on youth farm safety. Pre-intervention data were analysed for 67 youth, their fathers and mothers. Families were recruited through farm publications, youth organisations, local newspapers, farmer referrals, and the Cooperative Extension Network. Two hierarchical multiple regression models were run. Results Fathers and mothers who practiced lax-inconsistent disciplining were more likely to have youth who indulged in unsafe behaviours on the farm. Lax-inconsistent disciplining by fathers and mothers continued to predict youth unsafe farm behaviours, even after age, youth personality (risk-taking) and father’s modelling (of unsafe behaviours) were all taken into account. Conclusions Findings affirm that farm behaviours belong on the list of adolescent behaviours (like traffic violations) known to be positively influenced by permissive parenting styles. A key implication is that parents play an important role in influencing youth farm safety behaviours, and therefore need to be made the focus of farm safety interventions. Farm safety interventions need to focus not only on safe farm practices, but also promote positive parenting practices, including increased parent-youth communication about safety, consistent parental disciplining practices, increased monitoring and modelling of safe farm behaviours for youth.

Farm youth continue to experience high rates of injuries and premature deaths as a result of agricultural activities. Increased parental permissiveness is positively associated with many different types of high-risk behavior in youth. This study explored whether permissive parenting (fathering and mothering) predicts youth unsafe behaviors on the farm. Data were analyzed for 67 youth and their parents. Families were recruited from a statewide farm publication, through youth organizations (i.e. FFA), local newspapers, farmer referrals, and through the Cooperative Extension Network. Hierarchical multiple regression was completed. Results revealed that fathers and mothers who practiced lax-inconsistent disciplining were more likely to have youth who indulged in unsafe farm behaviors. Key hypotheses confirmed that permissive parenting (lax-inconsistent disciplining) by parents continued to predict youth unsafe farm behaviors, even after youth age, youth gender, youth personality factor of risk taking, and father's unsafe behaviors(a measure associated with modeling) were all taken into account. A key implication is that parents may play an important role in influencing youth farm safety behaviors. Parents (especially fathers) need to devote time to discuss farm safety with their youth. Farm safety interventions need to involve parents as well as address and respect the culture and values of families. Interventions need to focus not only on safe farm practices, but also promote positive parenting practices, including increased parent-youth communication about safety, consistent disciplining strategies, increased monitoring and modeling of safe farm behaviors by parents.

Children and youth account for a disproportionately high number of allterrain vehicle (ATV) related injuries and deaths. This study explored whether and how youth personality factors such as sensation seeking (including thrill seeking and behavioral intensity) and youth safety consciousness predict risky ATV riding behaviors. Survey information was collected from farm families in Georgia having youth who were active on farms. Data were analyzed from 104 youth between the ages 10 through 14 years who were active users of ATVs. Boys and girls had similar exposure to ATVs. Risky ATV riding behaviors were associated with age but not with gender. Boys and girls were equally likely to drive adult-sized ATVs, drive ATVs on public roads, drive ATVs fast, and carry extra passengers on single-seat ATVs. Boys had higher scores than girls on personality factors like thrill seeking and behavioral intensity. Hierarchical regression revealed that although there were multiple determinants of risky ATV riding behaviors of youth, thrill seeking appeared to be an important factor, which was moderated by safety consciousness. Youth who are low in thrill seeking and have a high level of safety consciousness reported less risky ATV riding behaviors. High thrill seekers were more likely to report indulging in risky ATV riding behaviors regardless of their level of safety consciousness. Our results suggest that personality traits (such as sensation seeking) of the target population should be considered when developing ATV safety interventions, as these traits will likely influence an intervention's level of success. Low thrill seekers would be prime candidates for safety training, as an increase in their safety consciousness may be more likely to result in decreased risky riding behaviors. High thrill seekers may be less amenable to training and will more likely require interventions external to the individual, including legislation, improved ATV safety design, use of crush protection devices, and safe riding rules monitored and strictly enforced by parents.

The study discussed in this article examined the extent to which fathers were aware of unsafe farm behaviors engaged in by their youth. Fathers and youth provided information about the youth's behaviors on the farm, particularly related to tractors/large equipment. Fathers indicated whether they were familiar with the North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT). Youth engaged in numerous unsafe and dangerous behaviors of which their fathers were unaware. Fathers were not familiar with NAGCAT. Extension professionals from agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development all have roles to play in educating parents about NAGCAT and youth farm safety.

Injuries to youth on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have been increasing exponentially in recent years. Youth under age 16 years are four times more likely to require emergency room treatments. This study explored the relationships and differences in ATV risk and safety behaviors based on age, gender, and age at ATV driving/ riding initiation. Data was collected from 180 farm youth between 10 and 19 years of age. The study brought to light an important factor that influences risky ATV behaviors of youth, namely their age at ATV driving and riding initiation. The sooner that youth (boys and girls) were exposed to ATVs, including riding with their family or friends, the sooner they started driving ATVs themselves, and the more likely they were to indulge in several ATV risk behaviors when older. This effect was more pronounced for boys than girls. Overall, girls in this study were equally likely to engage in many of the risky ATV behaviors like taking and giving rides on single seat ATVs, driving adult-sized ATVs, driving ATVs on public roads, and driving ATVs really fast. However, they were less likely to wear protective attire, leaving them more vulnerable to injuries and fatalities during crashes. Implications of the findings and future directions are discussed.

Each year, rural youth are injured and killed in farm accidents. This occurs, in part, because family farms are one of the few contexts in which youth live in a dangerous workplace. Farming is a stressful occupation, and farmer stress has been linked to adult farm injuries. This study examined the association between farm stress experienced by fathers and the unsafe farm behaviors of their youth. Sixty-seven fathers and their youth (ages 10 to 19 years) completed study questionnaires. Study youth were identified by their families as being actively involved in the work of the farm. The majority of fathers reported that they found farming to be stressful. Fathers who reported higher farm-related stress were more likely to engage in unsafe farm practices. Youth engaged in significantly more unsafe behaviors on the farm when they were older, worked longer hours on the farm, when their fathers experienced more farm-related stress, when the youth perceived that their parents experienced more farm stress, and when the youth experienced more farm-related stress themselves. Father farm-related stress continued to be predictive of youth unsafe behavior after other study variables were statistically taken into account. Resources to help farmers reduce stress are discussed, as are characteristics of farm culture that can make farmers hesitant to seek assistance with mental health concerns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

PurposeThis study used a randomized control design to evaluate the effectiveness of AgTeen, an in-home, family-based farm safety intervention, in decreasing extra riding on tractors by youth. Having children as extra riders on tractors has deep roots in farm culture, but it can result in serious injury or death.Methods The study randomized 151 families into 3 groups: parent-led intervention (fathers taught their families about farm safety), staff-led intervention (staff members who were peer farmers taught families), and a no-treatment control. Mothers, fathers, and all children aged 10-19 participated in the lessons.FindingsAt study entry, 93% of youth reported that they had been an extra rider on a tractor in the past year. Although they were aware of the injury risk, fathers frequently gave tractor rides to their children. After the intervention, fathers in both AgTeen groups were less likely than control fathers to give youth tractor rides. Intervention youth were less likely than control youth to be extra riders. The intervention positively affected the extra-riding attitudes and injury risk perceptions of mothers and fathers. The parent-led and staff-led groups did not significantly differ across study outcomes.Conclusions Findings confirm the effectiveness of a family-based intervention in decreasing extra riding on tractors by youth.