ABSTRACT
Objectives:
Agriculture is associated with various physical and
mental health risks. There has been growing concern about the psychological
hazards associated with
farming including high stress levels,
depression,
anxiety, and increasing rates of
suicide. To bolster
resilience and overall
survival within the
farmers, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive
understanding of the
protective factors that contribute to mental and
psychological well-being. Materials and
Methods:
The study followed an explorative
research design and used purposive sampling to select samples from Chikkaballapur District in Karnataka. Nine
farmers were interviewed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The
interview schedule was prepared based on the
literature review. Experts in the field did content and
face validation. The transcribed data were coded using the free version of QDA
Miner. The thematic
analysis approach was used for
data analysis.
Results:
Three broader themes and 15 sub-themes emerged (1) Personal
protective factors feeling of autonomy, purpose in
life, passion for
work, problem-solving skills, positive mindset and building
resilience,
learning new skills, and spiritual and
religious beliefs; (2) social
protective factors friends and
peer group,
belongingness,
family, and social engagements; and (3) environmental
protective factors lifestyle and being physically active, rural
environment,
government/institutional support, and recognition in the society.
Conclusion:
The study successfully emerged three overarching
protective factors that
farmers perceived as significant for their
mental health and well-being, entitled personal, social, and environmental. The study findings provide valuable insights for
social work practitioners, guiding them in developing interventions and
strategies to support the
mental health and well-being of the
farming population.