Iowa’s ”risk averse” nature linked to farmer trauma? Dr. Chris Morris of ISU explains the research.

Have you heard Iowans are "risk averse" creatures? Research from Iowa State University not only suggests this may be true, but its origin may be tied to farmer trauma, passed down to our children and grandchildren. Chris Morris, PhD research shows stress from farming has a compounding effect over time and becomes mentally destructive. The resulting trauma not only results in risk averse behavior and higher than average suicide rates, but is passed down. 

Dr. Morris has spoken with farmers across the entire state, and his stories are heartbreaking and shocking. The immense pressure farmer's face of "feeding the world" and protecting their ancestors legacy are heavy burdens result in low-grade stress that builds. Making things more difficult, farmers rarely share these social pressures, and therefore lack the mental tools to reverse the trend.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Why Iowans Play It Safe
02:06 - Farm Trauma Explained
06:38 - Risk Aversion and Ripple Effects
16:52 - Stigma and Isolation
24:03 - Trauma Stories and Policy
29:32 - What Helps Farmers Heal