Occupational Stressors among Farmers in Iran Using Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Methods

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Rural communities, especially farmers, are exposed to numerous concerns and stressors due to their type of occupation. The present study aimed at evaluating and prioritizing occupational stressors that cause dissatisfaction among farmers using Fuzzy Delphi Method and Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process.

Methods: This qualitative applied research was conducted in two phases. First, the most important occupational stressors among farmers were extracted and screened by Fuzzy Delphi technique. In the second phase, Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was used to weigh and rank the stressors. Finally, data were analyzed using Chang’s Extent Analysis method and Excel software.

Results: Dimensions of stressors in farmers are ranked as; economic (w = 0.298), environmental and climate (w = 0.276), social and job-related (w = 0.224) and spatial (w = 0.202), respectively. Among stressor sub-dimensions, reduced groundwater levels (0.0617), low price of agricultural products in rural areas (0.0575), inappropriate access roads to farms (0.0545), no insurance for agricultural products (0.1521), and difficult sales of agricultural products in rural areas (0.488) were the most significant occupational stressors among farmers.

Conclusion: Among occupational stressors, economic and environmental factors have the greatest impact on perceived occupational stress by farmers. Control strategies including providing farmers with financial support and purchasing agricultural products by government, restoring and reforming water and soil resources as well as personal coping strategies could greatly reduce occupational stress among farmers.

KEYWORDS:

• Stress
• farmers
• Delphi
• fuzzy analytical hierarchy process

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Research Consultation Center (RCC) at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for their invaluable assistance in editing this manuscript. They would also wish to thank the participants who shared their experiences and views during the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.