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Purpose: Aspects of farming and farm life can contribute to higher levels of depressive symptoms resulting in an increased risk for injury and development of chronic disease and a decrease in overall quality of life. Rural farm women can be subjected to stressors from farming as an occupation, their role within the agrarian culture, and life in a rural area. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of demographic characteristics, agricultural occupational factors, and health indicators with depressive symptoms among farm women aged 50 years and older. Methods: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Sustained Work Indicators of Older Farmers Study (2002-2006) was used to examine the influence of factors on depressive symptoms of older (> 50 years) female farmers (N= 358) from North Carolina and Kentucky. The study was framed by a modified version of the Biopsychosocial Model. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationships between demographics, perceived health status, active coping score, perceived stress, and factors specific to farm work and depressive symptoms. Findings: Participants’ depressive symptoms status (high vs. low) was predicted by their race/ethnicity, years of education, adequacy of income for vacation, perceived health status, perceived stress, and active coping. Conclusion: This study increases our understanding of the factors associated with depressive symptoms in farm women, but also identifies significant gaps in our knowledge of depressive symptoms among this population. The multifaceted dimensions of depressive symptoms revealed indicate a crucial need to more fully explore the interrelationship among the dimensions of the conceptual model and the physical and mental health of farm women. Additional knowledge gained from these studies will assist in the development of assessment instruments, skills, and plan of care specific to the needs of farm women; thus optimizing the health care of farm women. Key words: rural women, farm women, depressive symptoms, farm life

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Family dementia caregivers are an under-recognized and valuable geriatric workforce whose services have broad implications for health care systems. Family dementia caregivers may experience uncertainty, loss of role identity, involuntary role assumption, or undesirable life transitions. Subsequent unintentional mistreatment or abuse of their family care recipient may occur. Approximately 50% of caregivers admit to some form of mistreatment of their loved one who lives with dementia. Using Selder’s (1989) life transition theory, this qualitative study explored family members’ life transition process toward their new role identities as family dementia caregivers to better understand the personal and historical contexts of caregiving. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants to answer the questions: How does one acquire the role of primary family dementia caregiver?” and “How do personal and historical contexts inform the family dementia caregiver role?” Richness of data drove our sample size. Epistemological integrity ensured trustworthiness and rigor. A modification of Colaizzi’s (1978) analytic method was used for interpretative phenomenological analysis. The emergent themes uncovered by participants’ statements included: “It’s my turn”, “the breaking point”, and “a fine line” with the subtheme “balancing dignity and safety”. Participants described their introspective journeys toward a changed reality as family dementia caregivers. Our findings suggested the need for early recognition and vigilance to prevent the exploitation and mistreatment of those with dementia. Rural agriculture-based family caregivers in our study described unique and challenging characteristics. Further research is needed to explore the implications of these contextual nuances for rural agriculture-based family dementia caregivers.