When Cowboys

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When Cowboys ( Their Families) Get the
Blues Randy R. Weigel, Ph.D. University of
Wyoming Farm and Ranch Days Fremont
County February 16, 2006 Riverton, Wyoming
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Studies during the 1980s and 1990s found
the impact of the farm crisis and economic
hardship triggered personal and social
pathologies including high levels of
stress-related illnesses, hypertension and
psychiatric disorders, depression, diminished
life satisfaction, marital discord, alcoholism,
and even suicide. Ortega, S., Johnson, D.,
Beeson, P., Craft, B. (1994). The farm crisis
and mental health A longitudinal study of the
1980s. Rural Sociology, 59(4), 598- 619.
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Impact of Financial Stress on Families
Economic Pressure Parents Emotional
Distress Deteriorating Marital
Relations Decreased Quality of
Parenting Adolescent Maladjustment
Conger, R., Elder, G. (1994). Families in
troubled times Adapting to change in
rural America. New York A. de Gruyter.
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Effect of Tragedy on People Effects on
Thinking Effects on Emotions Effects on
Behavior Effects on Worldview
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Men Seeking Help Where do Cowboys go to
Cry? Mens Upbringing Traditional
Counseling
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Men and Depression Men would rather kill
themselves than admit they are depressed
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Ag. Families Reluctance to Seek Help for the
BLUES reputation lack of knowledge
solve own problems upbringing perceived as
lazy perceived as ill distrust of help
pride
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Going for help beats the hell out of the hell
the family goes through after a family member
commits suicide or homicide. Robert J.
Fetsch Family Therapist
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The Road to Resilience Resilient Ranch/Farm
Families are Survivorsnot Victims.
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Traits of Survivors Internal Locus of
Control Self-Confidence Optimism
Hardiness Flexibility
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• Strategies for Resilience
• Preparing Anticipating
• Previous Success
• Greater Use of Resources
• Uniting as a Family
• Expect to Recover
• Take Advantage of Help

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• Resilience in Farm and Ranch Families
• Parents Social Connections
• Relationships with Grandparents
• Work Chores Paid
• Involvement in Church
• School Involvement
• Identify with Dads
• Avoiding Trouble
• Elder, G., Conger, R. (2000). Children of the
  land Adversity and success in
• Rural America. Chicago University of Chicago
  Press.

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Parents Social Connections You know everybody.
If some- thing happens, you can interrupt someone
at their home . Most likely they know your
parents or you know them. Boy in senior
class
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Relationships with Grand- parents I guess hes
always been supportive of me, wanting me to go to
college. My parents got on my back for getting
Bs and Cs. He just said, Good job kid. Keep it
up. Grandson
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Work -- Chores Paid The job comes first,
before friends. Teenage boy, Iowa
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Involvement in Church Thursday night was
church nighteveryone went to their youth
groups. High School Girl, small town
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School Involvement Sports made me realize how
hard you have to work if you want to get
somewhere someday. Boy from displaced farm
family
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Identify with Dads Strong ties to father are
a significant factor in the over- all resilience
of Iowa youth and they play an important role
in reducing the chance of vulner- ability. Ran
d Conger, book author
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Avoiding Trouble If I did something wrong, my
father hears about it at the coffee shop the next
morning. An Iowa farm youth
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Recovering from Natural Disasters B-1103 Men
and Depression B-1104 Agriculture and Skin
Cancer What You Should Know B-1105 Lenders and
Angry Customers B-1113 Surviving Tragedy B-1117
Men Seeking Help B-1134
http//www.uwyo.edu/ces/LIFE/Personal_Nature_Main.
html
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Vital Beliefs for the Future Refuse to be the
victim Believe that life is significant
and has purpose.
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Vital Beliefs (cont.) Embrace the crisis
Believe that others share my troubles and my
hope. Believe the future is worth seeing.
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Anyone can give up But only the strong
will continue to battle. Rancher
Cancer Survivor
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