Environmental Studies Program

 

First Advisor

Tonya Haigh

Second Advisor

Hillary Mason

Date of this Version

Spring 4-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2024

Abstract

Drought is a sociological phenomenon. It is a well-known occurrence across the midwestern United States; the drying out of the soil, the failing of crops, and the constant dryness and heat… this is all drought. Inspired by my earliest memory of this climate phenomenon I sought to determine whether we can identify evidence of negative mental health impacts and/or well-being in rural Nebraskans due to drought, thus my research question: Can we identify negative effects of drought on rural Nebraskan mental health and/or wellbeing? In this study, rural Nebraska community members, who are involved with the agricultural sector, were interviewed. They were asked questions regarding their perceptions and stories of drought using purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods. The interviews were transcribed and put into a coding document based on common themes. In answering my main research question, I found themes throughout that indicate negative mental health/well-being impacts. Each and every individual in my study was able to speak to their experiences with drought and how it affected them. Stress was the most frequently mentioned mental health impact. The interviewees shared compelling responses that they became disheartened and no longer enjoyed farming. Furthermore, they expressed that their interactions with their loved ones suffered and their physical health was impacted. The interviewees reported witnessing these impacts on their friends and family as well. The purpose of this paper is to distill the results of the interviews into tangible evidence to assist in examining the research question. This small study found evidence that it is well-known within the farming community that mental health and well-being are negatively impacted by drought. With this knowledge, it is our job as a society to identify, address, and create solutions for a group of individuals that we as a society rely so heavily upon.

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