Farmers mental health inequalities are mediated by locus of control

Background

Locus of control, a belief about internal versus external control over life events, could help reduce mental health inequalities among farmers but remains underexplored. This study assessed the mediating role of locus of control in mental health socioeconomic inequalities among farmers.

Methods

Data from 293 farmers in northeastern France (mean age: 49±10 SD; 40.0% women) of the CAGRIMENT cohort (2025-2026) were used. Farmers self-reported socioeconomic status (socioeconomic deprivation, perceived social support) and locus of control (internal, external) at baseline, and mental health (anxiety, depression, well-being and quality of life) at 6-month follow-up. Structural equation modelling and counterfactual analyses were used to assess mediation by locus of control (total, direct, and indirect effects, and the proportion mediated).

Results

Overall, 34.9% of participants were socioeconomically deprived; 45.7% reported low/moderate social support. Socioeconomic deprivation was associated with higher anxiety (β = 16.3; 95% CI [11.6; 21.1]) and depression (β = 18.3; [12.4; 24.2]) scores, and with lower well-being (β = −11.8; [-16.3; -7.3]) and quality of life (β = −7.9; [-10.7; -5.1]) scores; similar patterns were observed with low/moderate perceived social support. Internal locus of control mediated 18.4–31.6% of socioeconomic deprivation-related and 36.7–73.5% of social-support-related inequalities in mental health. For example, the total effect of socioeconomic deprivation on depression was decomposed into a direct effect (β = 13.7; [8.1; 19.4]) and an indirect effect via internal locus of control (β = 4.5; [1.8; 7.7]), corresponding to a 25.1% (95% CI [11.0; 43.0]) mediated proportion.

Conclusions

Internal locus of control may help to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in mental health among farmers. Interventions such as cognitive-behavioral approaches could strengthen internal control, enhance empowerment, and improve farmers’ mental health.

Key messages

• Internal locus of control mediates socioeconomic inequalities in farmers’ mental health.

• Strengthening internal locus of control could support empowerment and improve farmers’ mental health.