PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Farming is a stressful occupation, and a growing body of research shows that farm stressors are associated with poor mental health. To date, there are few methodologically sound surveys that assess farm stressors, and none have been validated for the Canadian context. Our study aimed to: (a) investigate the types of stressors experienced by farmers, (b) develop a farm stress assessment tool and test its factor structure and internal consistency, and (c) assess its criterion-related validity to self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and resilience among farmers.
METHODS: We developed a 20-item survey based on a review of the literature, examining existing farm stress surveys, and consulting 10 farmers and agricultural industry experts. Then, a convenience sample of farmers living in Alberta, Canada (Sample 1, N = 354) completed a questionnaire containing the 20-item farm stress survey and four validated measures that assessed depression, anxiety, burnout, and resilience. Sample 1 was used to assess the factor structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency, and criterion-validity of the survey. Next, a convenience sample of farmers living outside of Alberta (Sample 2, N = 138) was used to evaluate the factor structure of the survey using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
RESULTS: The results of the EFA revealed five underlying dimensions of farm stressors: Unexpected work disruptions, Agricultural hazards, Farm and financial planning, Isolation, and Regulations and public pressure. The subscales accounted for 61.6% of the variance, and the internal consistency (Cronbach\'s alpha) ranged from 0.66 to.75. Subscale correlations were below 0.44, indicating evidence of discriminant validity. Correlations between the five subscales and the four mental health outcome variables supported the criterion-related validity of the survey. The results of the CFA indicated that the data fit the model, and fit was further improved by correlating one pair of error terms.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary analysis of our Farmer Stress Assessment Tool (FSAT) suggests it is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a range of stressors farmers face. Implications for policy and community-based mental health interventions that help farmers manage the enduring stressors of agriculture is discussed.
METHODS: We developed a 20-item survey based on a review of the literature, examining existing farm stress surveys, and consulting 10 farmers and agricultural industry experts. Then, a convenience sample of farmers living in Alberta, Canada (Sample 1, N = 354) completed a questionnaire containing the 20-item farm stress survey and four validated measures that assessed depression, anxiety, burnout, and resilience. Sample 1 was used to assess the factor structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency, and criterion-validity of the survey. Next, a convenience sample of farmers living outside of Alberta (Sample 2, N = 138) was used to evaluate the factor structure of the survey using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
RESULTS: The results of the EFA revealed five underlying dimensions of farm stressors: Unexpected work disruptions, Agricultural hazards, Farm and financial planning, Isolation, and Regulations and public pressure. The subscales accounted for 61.6% of the variance, and the internal consistency (Cronbach\'s alpha) ranged from 0.66 to.75. Subscale correlations were below 0.44, indicating evidence of discriminant validity. Correlations between the five subscales and the four mental health outcome variables supported the criterion-related validity of the survey. The results of the CFA indicated that the data fit the model, and fit was further improved by correlating one pair of error terms.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary analysis of our Farmer Stress Assessment Tool (FSAT) suggests it is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a range of stressors farmers face. Implications for policy and community-based mental health interventions that help farmers manage the enduring stressors of agriculture is discussed.
摘要：
背景：农业是一种压力很大的职业，越来越多的研究表明，农场压力源与不良的心理健康有关。迄今为止,很少有方法上合理的调查来评估农场压力源，并且没有一个在加拿大的背景下得到验证。我们的研究旨在：(A)调查农民所经历的压力源的类型，（b）开发农场压力评估工具，并测试其因素结构和内部一致性，（c）评估其与自我报告的焦虑水平相关的标准效度，抑郁症,倦怠,和农民的韧性。
方法：我们在文献综述的基础上进行了20项调查，检查现有的农场压力调查，并咨询了10名农民和农业产业专家。然后，居住在艾伯塔省的农民的便利样本，加拿大（样本1，N=354）完成了一份问卷，其中包含20项农场压力调查和四项评估抑郁症的有效措施，焦虑,倦怠,和韧性。样本1用于使用探索性因子分析(EFA)评估因子结构，内部一致性，和调查的标准效度。接下来,使用居住在艾伯塔省以外的农民的便利样本（样本2，N=138），使用验证性因子分析（CFA）评估调查的因子结构。
结果：全民教育的结果揭示了农场压力源的五个潜在维度：意外的工作中断，农业危害,农场和财务规划，隔离,法规和公众压力。子量表占方差的61.6%，内部一致性(克朗巴赫的阿尔法)范围从0.66到0.75。子量表相关性低于0.44，表明有判别效度的证据。五个分量表与四个心理健康结果变量之间的相关性支持调查的标准相关有效性。CFA的结果表明，数据拟合模型，通过关联一对误差项，进一步改进了拟合。
结论：对我们的农民压力评估工具（FSAT）的初步分析表明，它是测量农民面临的一系列压力源的可靠且有效的工具。讨论了政策和基于社区的心理健康干预措施的含义，这些措施可以帮助农民管理农业的持久压力源。
方法：我们在文献综述的基础上进行了20项调查，检查现有的农场压力调查，并咨询了10名农民和农业产业专家。然后，居住在艾伯塔省的农民的便利样本，加拿大（样本1，N=354）完成了一份问卷，其中包含20项农场压力调查和四项评估抑郁症的有效措施，焦虑,倦怠,和韧性。样本1用于使用探索性因子分析(EFA)评估因子结构，内部一致性，和调查的标准效度。接下来,使用居住在艾伯塔省以外的农民的便利样本（样本2，N=138），使用验证性因子分析（CFA）评估调查的因子结构。
结果：全民教育的结果揭示了农场压力源的五个潜在维度：意外的工作中断，农业危害,农场和财务规划，隔离,法规和公众压力。子量表占方差的61.6%，内部一致性(克朗巴赫的阿尔法)范围从0.66到0.75。子量表相关性低于0.44，表明有判别效度的证据。五个分量表与四个心理健康结果变量之间的相关性支持调查的标准相关有效性。CFA的结果表明，数据拟合模型，通过关联一对误差项，进一步改进了拟合。
结论：对我们的农民压力评估工具（FSAT）的初步分析表明，它是测量农民面临的一系列压力源的可靠且有效的工具。讨论了政策和基于社区的心理健康干预措施的含义，这些措施可以帮助农民管理农业的持久压力源。
