Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)
Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

"Landscape of Stress" for Sheep Owners in the Swedish Wolf Region

Flykt, Anders; Eklund, Ann; Frank, Jens; Johansson, Maria

Abstract

Farmers who keep livestock in large carnivore areas are exposed to threat of predation directly impacting on finances and workload as well as the associated psychological stress indirectly impacting on farmers well-being. So far, little is known about such stress responses. The concept of "stress" or "stress reaction" is often used as an undifferentiated umbrella concept for the experience of negative emotional episodes. However, the stress reactions could be divided into cognitive, physiological, and behavioural aspects. This study aimed to develop and apply a theory-based approach to identify stress responses among sheep farmers in the Swedish "wolf-region." A thematic analysis of interviews conducted with sheep farmers showed ample support for stress responses among the informants in relation to large carnivores and their management, although the interviews were conducted with a different focal topic. The findings support the idea that stress responses could be categorised into cognitive, physiological, and behavioural aspects. This distinction would help to identify and fully understand the cumulative impact of stress from the presence of large carnivores on farmers' well-being.

Keywords

stress; cognitive; physiological; behavioural; wolf

Published in

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
2022, Volume: 10, article number: 783035
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

      SLU Authors

    • Sustainable Development Goals

      SDG15 Life on land
      SDG3 Good health and well-being

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Ecology
      Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.783035

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/116510