Understanding Farmers' Adaptation Behavior against Drought: Application of the Health Belief Model

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Mostafa Moridi
Rezvan Ghanbari Movahed
Mehdi Rahimian
Saeed Gholamrezai
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, College of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Lorestan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of droughts, adaptive behavior becomes increasingly crucial. Farmers' capacity to modify their practices in response to evolving climate conditions is vital for ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability and food security. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the psychological factors influencing farmers' adaptation behaviors in response to drought using the Health Belief Model. The sample comprised 380 farmers from Kuhdashat Township, Lorestan Province, Iran, selected via a three-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results indicated that self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived vulnerability, and perceived barriers explained about 49% of the variance in farmers’ adaptation behavior. Perceived benefits emerged as the strongest predictor of adaptation, while cues to action and perceived severity were insignificant. These findings support the health belief model's practicality and effectiveness in examining water conservation behavior among Iranian farmers.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 28, Issue 1
January and February 2026
Pages 119-131