Identifying the Factors Affecting Ohio Farmers? Quality of Life
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 7, Issue 2 - December 2014
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
The term “quality of life” is a multi-dimensional concept that creates a challenge for categorical assessment and measurement, especially when investigating a dynamic agriculture lifestyle. This exploratory study utilized a 34-item questionnaire to identify factors that affected the quality of life of 400 Ohio farmers. These farmers reported they experienced stress less than two days a week (48.6%) with the majority (95%) indicating they had a positive outlook on life. Overwhelmingly, 99.0% reported satisfaction with their overall quality of life. On a scale of Negative-Effect, No-Effect, and Positive-Effect farmers rated 12 external factors as having more negative effects on their quality of life, with such factors including input costs, financial pressures, and cost of agricultural equipment. Ohio farmers reported they were overall satisfied with their social activities (97.9%), the emotional support they received from family members (95.7%), their farm work during the busiest season (96.0%), their overall health status (94.5%), and the hours they work during the busiest season (91.4%). However they were not as satisfied with the hours of sleep they received in their busy season (19.2%), their management of farm work with family life in their busy season (13.6%), nor the amount of annual vacation time (11.4%). Findings of this study may be helpful for stakeholders to better understand farmers’ needs and provide appropriate educational and financial assistance programs to enhance their agricultural life.
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