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Perceived profitability and well‐being in A ustralian dryland farmers and irrigators
Author(s) -
Peel Dominic,
Berry Helen L.,
Schirmer Jacki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/ajr.12176
Subject(s) - profitability index , business , intervention (counseling) , distress , finance , psychology , medicine , nursing , psychotherapist
Objective To describe the relationship between self‐reported farm profitability and farmer well‐being, and to explore potential implications for farmer assistance policy. Design Cross‐sectional analysis of farmers from R egional W ellbeing S urvey data (wave 1, 2013) and comparison between groups. Participants Participants were 1172 dryland farmers (35% women) and 707 irrigators (24% women). Main outcome measure The P ersonal W ellbeing I ndex and the K essler 10‐item measure of general psychological distress. Results There is a consistent and significant relationship between higher profitability, greater well‐being and less distress among dryland farmers and irrigators. Conclusions The relationship between farm profitability and the well‐being of A ustralian dryland farmers and irrigators has the potential to inform farmer assistance policy. Assistance programs can be more effective if they explicitly incorporate a profitability assessment into their targeting and eligibility requirements and a well‐being component into program design and delivery. Setting Rural Australia. Intervention Not applicable.