Understanding Farmers' adaptation behavior against drought: Application of the Health Belief Model

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
M. Moridi 1
R. Ghanbari Movahed 2
M. Rahimian 2
S. Gholamrezai 2
1 Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, 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 aims to investigate the psychological factors affecting farmers' adaptation behaviors in response to drought, using the health belief model. The sample comprised 380 farmers from Kohdashat County in Lorestan Province, western 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.

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