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

• Published in: Journal of agromedicine 2020-01, Vol.25 (1), p.28-37
• Main Authors: Jahangiri, Mehdi, Molaeifar, Hossein, Rajabi, Fazel, Banaee, Sean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access roads; Agricultural economics; Agricultural products; Agriculture; Agriculture - economics; Analytic hierarchy process; Climate; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision making; Delphi; Delphi method; Delphi Technique; Economics; Environmental factors; Farmers; Farmers - psychology; Farms; fuzzy analytical hierarchy process; Government procurement; Groundwater; Groundwater levels; Humans; Impact analysis; Iran; Multiple criterion; Occupational health; Occupational stress; Occupational Stress - epidemiology; Psychological stress; Qualitative analysis; Reforming; Rural areas; Rural communities; Rural roads; Socioeconomic Factors; Soil water; Stress
• ISSN: 1059-924X; 1545-0813
• DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2019.1592048

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.