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Rural stress is the physiological reaction brought upon by internal and socioeconomic stressors characteristic of rural residents. This type of stress is exacerbated by the complex issues facing rural populations and serves to inhibit the growth of vibrant, resilient communities. The current study sought to construct and validate an instrument intended to quantify perceptions of rural stress among neighbors and communities. The proposed scale was confirmed to have robust content, internal structure, and consequential validity. An exploratory factor analysis indicated one variable accounted for 57.74% of the total variance, while a one-way between subjects ANOVA found a statistically significant effect of group on scale scores under rural-urban continuum (RUC) conditions. One implication from these findings is that changes in communities may function as predictors of stress. Agricultural and extension educators hold a unique position that allows them to interact with the community on a daily basis. We recommend that they leverage this position to educate residents on the effects of stress, reduce the stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors, and discuss available stress management resources. Future research should consider modifying the instrument to focus on individual levels of stress instead of perceptions of stress within the community.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a robust scale, based on the community capital framework, to provide an empirical measure of community perceptions. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed measure was completed by a sample of Georgia citizens (n = 3374) representing a diverse cross-section of community characteristics. Findings: Data indicate that the six proposed scales (natural, social, human, cultural, built-financial, and political) subsumed within the instrument measure unique underlying latent variables with evidence of internal validity through multiple analytic techniques. Practical implications: This study represents an initial examination of a quantitative instrument -- the Community Diagnostics + Social Impact (CD + SI) Toolkit™ -- that can be used by researchers, educators, and community development professionals to measure the stocks of the various capitals within a community. Theoretical implications: The theoretical implications of this study are that the CD + SI Toolkit™ holds promise as a valid and reliable instrument for establishing holistic community profiles, identifying targeted areas for in-depth research inquiry or programmatic design, guiding policy design and implementation, and ultimately evaluating the impacts of community development programs and policies. The CD + SI Toolkit™ addresses an omission in the literature and in broader community development. Originality/value: While various frameworks such as the CCF exist to provide a more general blueprint for program development and assessment, the CD + SI Toolkit™ represents an effort to specifically quantify the community capitals and establish a replicative process for measuring community capitals. The results of this initial validation effort demonstrate the potential for such a tool.

As the number of female forest landowners (FFLs) in the United States continues to rise, there is an increasing need to understand the perceptions of stakeholder groups about opportunities and challenges faced by FFLs in the context of sustainable forestland management. This study utilizes the technique of SWOT-AHP (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Treats-Analytical Hierarchy Process) to understand the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (FFLs, private foresters, government representatives, and non-profits) in Georgia-a significant forestry state located in the Southern United States. Sixteen factors (four under each SWOT category) were selected through a comprehensive literature review and detailed interviews with individuals from the identified stakeholder groups. A survey was created using these factors that asked stakeholders to compare them in their respective SWOT categories. An additional survey was created for each stakeholder group where survey participants compared the highest-ranking factors in each SWOT category. We found that all stakeholder groups prioritized weaknesses over the other SWOT categories. Results showed a significant need for relevant educational outreach programs that cater specifically to FFLs. Additionally, researchers found a need to promote the interest of future generations in forestland management as all stakeholder groups felt that limited interest from future generations was the most important threat. This study will directly feed into regional, national, and international attempts to increase the participation of minority family forest landowners in sustainable forest management through integrated forest policy development., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest as the data was collected independently from survey participants after receiving their verbal consent following the University of Georgia Institutional Review Board guidelines. The commercial affiliation with one of our authors, DA, does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.