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Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review

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  • Sahar Daghagh Yazd

    (Centre for Global Food and Resources, Faculty of Professions, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

  • Sarah Ann Wheeler

    (Centre for Global Food and Resources, Faculty of Professions, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

  • Alec Zuo

    (Centre for Global Food and Resources, Faculty of Professions, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

Abstract

Recently, concern has increased globally over farmers’ mental health issues. We present a systematic review of the outcomes, locations, study designs, and methods of current studies on farmers’ mental health. In particular, this review aims to fill an important gap in understanding of the potential key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health around the world. 167 articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review using a standardized electronic literature search strategy and PRISMA guidelines. The four most-cited influences on farmers’ mental health in the reviewed literature respectively were pesticide exposure, financial difficulties, climate variabilities/drought, and poor physical health/past injuries. The majority of studies were from developed countries, most specifically from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Comparative studies on the mental health of farmers and other occupational workers showed mixed results, with a larger portion identifying that psychological health disturbances were more common in farmers and farm-workers. Knowledge of farmer psychological disorder risk factors and its impacts are essential for reducing the burden of mental illness. Further research will be required on climate change impacts, developing country farmers’ mental health, and information on how to reduce help-seeking barriers amongst farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sahar Daghagh Yazd & Sarah Ann Wheeler & Alec Zuo, 2019. "Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4849-:d:293350
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    1. Miho Sato & Hiromi Kato & Makiko Noguchi & Hiroshi Ono & Kuniyuki Kobayashi, 2020. "Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Emelynne Gabrielly de Oliveira Santos & Paulo Roberto Queiroz & Aryelly Dayane da Silva Nunes & Kelly Graziani Giacchero Vedana & Isabelle Ribeiro Barbosa, 2021. "Factors Associated with Suicidal Behavior in Farmers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Marita Stier-Jarmer & Cornelia Oberhauser & Dieter Frisch & Götz Berberich & Thomas Loew & Carina Schels-Klemens & Birgit Braun & Angela Schuh, 2020. "A Multimodal Stress-Prevention Program Supplemented by Telephone-Coaching Sessions to Reduce Perceived Stress among German Farmers: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Syadani Riyad Fatema & Leah East & Md Shahidul Islam & Kim Usher, 2021. "Health Impact and Risk Factors Affecting South and Southeast Asian Women Following Natural Disasters: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Florence Becot & Casper Bendixsen & Kathrine Barnes & Josie Rudolphi, 2021. "Broadening Our Understanding of Farm Children’s Risk Exposure by Considering Their Parents’ Farming Background," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Bjørnåvold, Amalie & David, Maia & Bohan, David A. & Gibert, Caroline & Rousselle, Jean-Marc & Van Passel, Steven, 2022. "Why does France not meet its pesticide reduction targets? Farmers' socio-economic trade-offs when adopting agro-ecological practices," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Fadare, Olusegun & Zanello, Giacomo & Srinivasan, Chittur, 2023. "Stressor or succour? Examining the association between conflict, livestock assets, and farmers’ mental health in Nigeria," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    8. Matthew Abunyewah & Mitchell K. Byrne & Carol A. Keane & Daniel Bressington, 2023. "Developing Psychological Resilience to the Impact of Drought," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    9. Danni Feng & Quan Wang & Sufang Huang & Xiaorong Lang & Fengfei Ding & Wei Wang, 2022. "The Effect of Perceived Stress, Family Companionship, and Mental Health on the Subjective Happiness of Chinese Healthcare Workers: A Mixed Research Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Briana N. M. Hagen & Alex Sawatzky & Sherilee L. Harper & Terri L. O’Sullivan & Andria Jones-Bitton, 2021. "What Impacts Perceived Stress among Canadian Farmers? A Mixed-Methods Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    11. Alison Kennedy & Catherine Cosgrave & Joanna Macdonald & Kate Gunn & Timo Dietrich & Susan Brumby, 2021. "Translating Co-Design from Face-to-Face to Online: An Australian Primary Producer Project Conducted during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    12. Moshe Gish & Aya Shalmon & Ofira Ayalon, 2023. "The Destructive Effects of Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles on Farmer Well-Being: Mental Health Consequences Outweigh Economic Losses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    13. Manel Díaz Llobet & Manel Plana-Farran & Micaela L. Riethmuller & Victor Rodríguez Lizano & Silvia Solé Cases & Mercè Teixidó, 2023. "Mapping the Research into Mental Health in the Farming Environment: A Bibliometric Review from Scopus and WoS Databases," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    14. Terasa Younker & Heidi Liss Radunovich, 2021. "Farmer Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-30, December.
    15. Jing Hou & Linhai Wu & Bo Hou, 2020. "Risk Attitude, Contract Arrangements and Enforcement in Food Safety Governance: A China’s Agri-Food Supply Chain Scenario," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    16. Jungsun Park & Hanjun Kim & Yangho Kim, 2021. "Factors Related to Psychological Well-Being as Moderated by Occupational Class in Korean Self-Employed Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Brune, Sara & Vilá, Olivia & Knollenberg, Whitney, 2023. "Family farms' resilience under the COVID-19 crisis: Challenges and opportunities with agritourism," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    18. Jie Song & Yaping Cai & Yahong Wang & Salim Khan, 2022. "Health Risk, Income Effect, and the Stability of Farmers’ Poverty Alleviation in Deep Poverty Areas: A Case Study of S-County in Qinba Mountain Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.

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