Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Mental Health Agriculture Rural Chronic Illness Occupational Stress Resiliency

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About

I am an Applied Social Psychologist and Professor who focuses on mental health and wellbeing, work, and access to care. Broadly, my research focuses on ways to improve the work lives of people living with a chronic mental or physical illness/disability and how to improve efficiency, flow and communication of healthcare services for individuals living in rural and remote areas. My current focus examines mental health among farmers, farming families, and those working in the agricultural sector. 

I am a co-founder of Agknow, the Alberta Mental Health Network, and worked with them to improve access to mental health services for farmers across the province and launched a research program at the University of Alberta to understand the mental health status, stressors, and needs of our farmers. I recently launched Agricultural Well-Being in Alberta (AgWellAB) and l lead a dedicated group of undergraduate researchers from rural backgrounds and collaborate with community members, healthcare professionals, educators, and industry experts. Our mission? To strengthen mental health and boost economic growth so that today’s farmers and the next generation are equipped to manage the challenges that come their way.

Education

• Ph.D., Applied Social Psychology, University of Windsor
• M.A., Applied Social Psychology, University of Windsor
• Post-graduate Diploma, Human Resource Management, Conestoga College
• B.A. (Honours), Psychology, University of Guelph

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Research

Please visit the AgWellAB website for updates about our research on farmer mental health and well-being.

Recent publications: 

• Purc-Stephenson, R., Hood, D. & Doctor, J. (2025). “With every big outbreak we lose staff”: The mental health impacts of depopulation on veterinarians. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 66,  184-192.
• Purc-Stephenson, R. & Doctor, J. (2025). “The hill in front of you”: A qualitative study of the mental health impact of livestock diseases and depopulation on farmers. Journal of Agromedicine, 1-11. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Hartman, C., Marriott, E.K., Phillips, S. & Scotton, C. (2025). Understanding farmers' readiness to develop a succession plan: Barriers, motivators and preliminary recommendations. Sustainability, 17(1), 270. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R. & Blake, K. (2024). Diagnostic delays and health outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease: A mixed-methods study of patients’ perspectives. Quality of Life Research, 1-10. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R. J., Dedrick, S., & Hood, D. (2024). A multidimensional tool to measure farm stressors: development and initial validation of the farmer stress assessment tool (FSAT). BMC Psychology, 12(1), 435. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Roy, N., Chimaobi, A., & Hood, D. (2024). An evidence-based guide for delivering mental healthcare services in farming communities: A qualitative study of providers’ perspectives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 791. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R. & Edwards, R. (2024). Finding meaning in chronic illness and its relationship to psychological well-being: A mixed-methods study. PLOS Mental Health, 1(4), e0000121. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Doctor, J., & Keehn, J. E. (2023). Understanding the factors contributing to farmer suicide: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Rural and Remote Health, 23(3), 1-11.

 Recent conferences:

• Purc-Stephenson, R., Hagen, B., Jones, A., Pavloff, M. & Wiebe, J. (2025, April 24-26). From Farms to Clinics: Evidence-based Approaches for Engaging Farmers in Medical Practice.  [Conference workshop]. Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Hood, D. & Doctor, J. (2024, June 17-21). Exploring the Psychosocial Impact of Livestock Epidemics and Depopulation on Farmers [Conference presentation]. International Society for Agricultural Health and Safety, Portland, OR, United States.
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Hartman, C., Hood, D., Marriot, E.K., Phillips, S. & Scotton, C. (2024, June 17-21). Planning for a Future? The Factors Underlying Farmers' Intention to Develop or Delay a Succession Plan [Conference presentation]. International Society for Agricultural Health and Safety, Portland, OR, United States.
• Purc-Stephenson, R. Hood, D. & Roy, N. (2024, April 18-20). An Evidence-Based Framework for Delivering Mental Health Services to Rural Albertans: Perspectives and Strategies from Health Care Professionals [Conference presentation]. Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Keehn, J., & Dedrick, S. (2023, October 18-21). Assessing Stress, Mental Health, and Barriers to Seeking Healthcare among Farmers: A Mixed Methods Study. [Conference presentation]. International Society of Quality of Life, Calgary, AB, Canada.
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Roy, N., Chimaobi, A (2023, October 18-21). Approaches to Providing Mental Health Services to Farming Communities: A Qualitative Investigation [Conference presentation]. International Society of Quality of Life, Calgary, AB, Canada. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R., Doctor, J. & Keehn, J. (2023, August 3-5). Behind the Masks they Wear: Exploring the Factors Contributing to Farmer Suicide. [Conference presentation]. American Psychological Association Conference, Washington, DC, United States.
• Purc-Stephenson, R., & Keehn, J. (2023, August 3-5). Participation-induced Traumatic Stress among Veterinarians involved in Mass Euthanasia [Conference presentation]. American Psychological Association Conference, Washington, DC, United States.
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (March, 2023). Navigating the Work-Life Stressors of Farming: Introducing the Farming Adversity-Resilience Management (FARM) Framework. Paper presented at the National Symposium for Agricultural Well-Being.

Recent public presentations and workshops:

• Purc-Stephenson, R. (October 12, 2024). Building Resilient Rural Communities: Innovations in Mental Health for Rural Alberta. Rural Mental Health Conference. Camrose, AB. [Keynote]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (June 12, 2024). Mental Health, Farm Culture, and Agriculture. Ag Lenders Workshop, Olds, AB. [Workshop]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (April 12, 2024). Stress and Burnout: Warning Signs and Coping Strategies. Wetaskiwin Wellness Workshop, Wetaskiwin AB. [Keynote]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (April 8, 2024). Mental Health, Farm Culture and Women in Agriculture. Farm Women's Conference, Olds AB. [Keynote]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (March 15, 2024). Mental Health, Stress and Succession Planning. Wildrose Bison Convention, Camrose AB. [Presentation]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (March 11, 2024). Understanding Farm Culture (part 2). Alberta Counselling Therapy Association. [Webinar]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (Feb 21, 2024). Farmer Mental Health for The Bovine. [podcast] https://abpdaily.com/checking-in-with-abp/the-bovine-the-future-of-aiwill-it-finally-rain-and-giving-our-brains-a-break/. 
• Purc-Stephenson, R. & Hood, D. (Feb 8, 2024). Stress and Mental Health in Rural Alberta: Recognizing Issues and Promoting Well-Being. Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, Wetaskiwin AB. [Workshop]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (Feb 5, 2024). Understanding Farm Culture (part 1). Alberta Counselling Therapy Association. [Webinar]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (Feb 2, 2024). Stress and Burnout among Alberta Farmers: Warning Signs and Coping Strategies. Winfield Wellness Workshop, Winfield AB. 2024-02-02. [Presentation]
• Purc-Stephenson, R. (Jan 30, 2024). Mental Health, Growing Resilience: Cultivating Mental Health in Agriculture. CrossRoads Crop Conference, Calgary AB. [Presentation]

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Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

“There is nothing so practical as a good theory.” ~ Kurt Lewin

Courses Taught

I teach several applied social psychology and methods courses for the Psychology program. Below is the list of courses I currently teach at our campus:

• AUPSY 213 Statistical Methods for Psychological Research
• AUPSY 220 Personality
• AUPSY 342 Health Psychology
• AUPSY 346 Community Psychology
• AUPSY 348 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• AUPSY 414 Program Evaluation
• AUPSY 488 Forensic Psychology

Student Supervision

I typically supervise several students each year in an Independent Study Project and/or a Directed Readings Course. Below is a sample of some of those topics:

• Hailey Smith - Getting it done: Evaluating Community-Based Child Programs. Independent Study Project.
• Wesdyne Amyotte - Making Sense of Multiple Sclerosis through Art Therapy. Master's Candidate, St. Stephen's College.
• Ashli Lindholm - The long-term outcomes of a community-based teen pregnancy program. Independent Study Project. 
• Larissa Brosinsky - Determining how social media can enhance a community-based prevention program. Independent Study Project. 
• Candace Yung - The impact of illness onset on psychological and physical well-being in chronically ill patients. Independent Study Project.
• Kaitlyn Ganser - Exploring the possible causes and consequences of Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) for the perpetrator and victim. Independent Study Project. 

AUMGT 340 - Organizational Behaviour

Study of individuals and groups in an organizational setting. The course will help the student develop an understanding of the organizational behaviour concepts and the interaction between individual determinants of behaviour and group dynamics. Prerequisite: AUMGT 200.

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AUPSY 220 - Personality

Introductory survey including representative theoretical points of view and research relevant to the major problems of the study of personality. Prerequisite: AUPSY 103.

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AUPSY 346 - Community Psychology

Examination of the theories, approaches, and values behind social intervention intended to ameliorate, or prevent, psychological difficulty. Examples of community change are drawn from a Canadian context whenever possible. Prerequisites: AUPSY 103 and AUPSY 213.

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AUPSY 348 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology

An overview of theories and research relevant to understanding human behaviour in the workplace. Prerequisite: AUPSY 240.

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AUPSY 408 - History and Systems of Psychology

Survey of major theoretical approaches to psychology, especially in the last two centuries, emphasizing the historical antecedents and contemporary significance of each. Prerequisites: AUPSY 103 and fourth year standing. Notes: Open only to a student with a major in Psychology. AUPSY 408 is classified as an arts course. Credit may be obtained for only one of AUPSY 408 or AUPSY 409.

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AUPSY 409 - History and Systems of Psychology

Survey of major theoretical approaches to psychology, especially in the last two centuries, emphasizing the historical antecedents and contemporary significance of each. Prerequisites: AUPSY 103 and fourth year standing. Notes: Open only to a student with a major in Psychology. AUPSY 409 is classified as a science course. Credit may be obtained for only one of AUPSY 408 or AUPSY 409.

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AUPSY 488 - Forensic Psychology

Examination of the psychology of criminal behaviour and the legal system. Topics include theories of criminal behaviour, jury selection and decision-making, police interrogations and confessions, eyewitness testimony, and risk assessment and offender intervention programs. Prerequisite: AUPSY 240. Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUPSY 488 and AUCRI 488 (2020).

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AUSTA 313 - Advanced Research Design

In this course, students will continue to build upon their existing knowledge of quantitative research design and data analysis. Some topics include: The role of theory in psychological research, an introduction to qualitative methods and analysis, literature reviews and advanced quantitative design. Prerequisites: AUSTA 217. Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUPSY 313 (2021) and AUSTA 313.

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