Supporting mental health in farming communities where and when it is needed most: A longitudinal analysis of risk and protective factors

IF 4.9 2区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Social Science & Medicine Pub Date : 2024-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117381

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The cyclical nature of agriculture exposes farmers to challenges that vary over time, influenced by a myriad of external factors beyond their control. This longitudinal study aimed to examine mental health trajectories for Western Australian farmers over a 12 month period, and determine associations with key risk and protective factors. Farmers and farm residents (N = 125) completed an online survey at three timepoints (baseline, 6 months and 12 months) that assessed anxiety, depression, stress, farming stressors, coping strategies, sense of belonging and social supports. Survey timing coincided with periods of harvest and seeding. Risk factors associated with poorer mental health among farmers included a range of dysfunctional and emotion coping strategies, family/relationship stressors, financial/external stressors and daily stressors. Protective factors included sense of belonging and social support. Stress was found to change over time and family/relationship stressors and financial/external stressors at baseline were found to moderate anxiety and stress at 6 months and 12 months. Addressing factors associated with poor mental health trajectories and bolstering factors that are protective for mental health over time will aid clinical and community services in tailoring their services to meet the needs of farmers.

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在最需要的时间和地点支持农业社区的心理健康：对风险和保护因素的纵向分析。

农业的周期性使农民面临的挑战随着时间的推移而变化，这些挑战受到农民无法控制的各种外部因素的影响。这项纵向研究旨在考察西澳大利亚农民在 12 个月内的心理健康轨迹，并确定与主要风险和保护因素之间的关联。农民和农场居民（125 人）在三个时间点（基线、6 个月和 12 个月）完成了一项在线调查，对焦虑、抑郁、压力、农业压力源、应对策略、归属感和社会支持进行了评估。调查时间与收获和播种期一致。与农民精神健康状况较差相关的风险因素包括一系列功能失调和情绪化应对策略、家庭/人际关系压力、经济/外部压力和日常压力。保护因素包括归属感和社会支持。研究发现，压力会随着时间的推移而变化，基线时的家庭/人际关系压力和经济/外部压力在 6 个月和 12 个月时会减轻焦虑和压力。解决与不良心理健康轨迹相关的因素，并随着时间的推移加强对心理健康有保护作用的因素，将有助于临床和社区服务部门提供量身定制的服务，以满足农民的需求。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Social Science & Medicine PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

9.10

自引率

5.60%

发文量

762

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Social Science & Medicine provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for the dissemination of social science research on health. We publish original research articles (both empirical and theoretical), reviews, position papers and commentaries on health issues, to inform current research, policy and practice in all areas of common interest to social scientists, health practitioners, and policy makers. The journal publishes material relevant to any aspect of health from a wide range of social science disciplines (anthropology, economics, epidemiology, geography, policy, psychology, and sociology), and material relevant to the social sciences from any of the professions concerned with physical and mental health, health care, clinical practice, and health policy and organization. We encourage material which is of general interest to an international readership.