RESEARCH PAPER
Neurological and mental health outcomes among conventional and organic farmers in Indiana, USA
1
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
2
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
3
Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
4
Vincent and Elinor Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, Indiana University, Bloomington
Corresponding author
Khalid M Khan
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, School of Public Health, Dept. of Environmental Health, 47405 Bloomington, United States
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, School of Public Health, Dept. of Environmental Health, 47405 Bloomington, United States
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018;25(2):244–249
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Every farming method, whether conventional or organic, has been associated with some sort of risky behaviors leading to health issues among farmers. Substantial evidence is not available in the literature to determine whether the magnitudes of health outcomes vary between conventional and organic farmers. The study investigated whether self-reported neurological and mental health symptoms differ between conventional and organic farmers living in Indiana, USA.
Material and methods:
A self-reported questionnaire survey collected information from 200 conventional and 157 organic farmers of Indiana on demographic characteristics, depression and neurological symptoms. Statistical analyses were conducted to observe the differences in self-reported symptoms by groups of farmers.
Results:
It was observed that the conventional farmers had significantly higher age-adjusted mean neurological symptom score (p<0.01) than the organic farmers. Regression models revealed positive and significant associations of conventional farming with total (β =1.34; p=0.02), sensory (β =0.83; p=0.001) and behavioural (β =0.09; p=0.03) symptoms after accounting for age, income, education and years in farming. Positive but non-significant associations were also observed in conventional farmers with cognitive and motor symptoms, and with all subscales of depression symptoms in the adjusted models.
Conclusions:
The findings obtained suggest the importance of a larger study to further explain the difference in mental and neurological health effects in these two categories of farmers.
Every farming method, whether conventional or organic, has been associated with some sort of risky behaviors leading to health issues among farmers. Substantial evidence is not available in the literature to determine whether the magnitudes of health outcomes vary between conventional and organic farmers. The study investigated whether self-reported neurological and mental health symptoms differ between conventional and organic farmers living in Indiana, USA.
Material and methods:
A self-reported questionnaire survey collected information from 200 conventional and 157 organic farmers of Indiana on demographic characteristics, depression and neurological symptoms. Statistical analyses were conducted to observe the differences in self-reported symptoms by groups of farmers.
Results:
It was observed that the conventional farmers had significantly higher age-adjusted mean neurological symptom score (p<0.01) than the organic farmers. Regression models revealed positive and significant associations of conventional farming with total (β =1.34; p=0.02), sensory (β =0.83; p=0.001) and behavioural (β =0.09; p=0.03) symptoms after accounting for age, income, education and years in farming. Positive but non-significant associations were also observed in conventional farmers with cognitive and motor symptoms, and with all subscales of depression symptoms in the adjusted models.
Conclusions:
The findings obtained suggest the importance of a larger study to further explain the difference in mental and neurological health effects in these two categories of farmers.
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