Rural community stress, distress, and well-being in Pennsylvania

Rural distress and stress have become critical issues in the wake of crises in agriculture and other rural industries. Nationally, evidence has shown that populations in rural areas generally suffer higher rates of poverty, less access to health and human services, and greater levels of disability, impairment, and mental and physical disorders than those in urban areas. Research has also shown that particular rural areas and segments of rural communities vary greatly in the stresses to which they are exposed and in the apparent consequences for social and individual well-being (Beale, 1990; Luloff and Swanson, 1990; Wilkinson, 1991). There is, however, little research that documents these presumed variations or identifies specific reasons for potential differences in stress levels. After careful typology construction, this study finds little evidence of variation in stress levels by community type, despite widely varying community situations.