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Conference abstract2012Open access

The psychosocial pulse of Swedish farming – Screening of the psychosocial work conditions, mental health and social network of farmers and rural entrepreneurs in Sweden

Lunner Kolstrup, Christina; Lundqvist, Peter

Abstract

Background The expansion of small family farms often implies increased financial responsibility, risk taking, employee responsibility and long working hours. Agriculture represents a profession whose success is highly dependent on uncontrollable external conditions such as weather, legislation, disease outbreak, environmental changes and negative societal attitudes. Moreover, farmers’ face normative and market pressures and are expected to maintain high production standards, a stable economy and to act in socially conscious and environmentally responsible ways. The combination of uncontrollable external factors, heightened expectations and a weak social support network can cause a poor psychosocial work conditions and ultimately a worsening of mental health. Objectives The objectives were to study the psychosocial work conditions and mental health of farmers’ operating small sized Swedish farms and to compare them with a group of non-farming entrepreneurs. Methods The study was conducted in 2011 among 470 farmers and 166 non-farming entrepreneurs. The General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPSNordic) was administered to assess subjective perceptions of the psychosocial work conditions and mental health. Results The two groups reported general well-being in their psychosocial work conditions and health, however, non-farming entrepreneurs perceived their psychosocial work conditions and mental health as better than farmers. Minor differences occurred among the farmers and it was mainly the dairy and beef producers who rated their psychosocial work conditions and mental health poorer than crop and pig producers. The farmers’ experienced EU legislation, government action, increased requirements from society and consumers, weather conditions, animal welfare legislation, varying market prices, increased crime, agro-terrorism, disease outbreaks among plants and animals and concern for the future as the most stressful external factors. An action plan for improving the psychosocial work conditions, mental health, and social networks in rural areas will be developed based on the results.

Published in

Landskap, trädgård, jordbruk : rapportserie
2012, number: 2012:16, pages: 82-82
Title: Health and Safety in Agriculture : Nordic and world-wide perspectives
ISBN: 978-91-87117-15-2
Publisher: Arbetsvetenskap, Ekonomi och Miljöpsykologi (AEM), Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet

Conference

Nordic Meeting on Agricultural Occupational Health & Safety 2012