EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A PREDICTOR OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FARMERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i5.2024.5900Keywords:
Perceived Social Support, Quality of Life, Farmers, Rural Stress, Mental Health, Social ResourcesAbstract [English]
Agriculture continues to be the primary source of livelihood for a large section of India’s rural population. Despite its importance, farmers face a range of challenges such as climate change, debt, crop failure, and poor irrigation. These ongoing stressors significantly impact their quality of life. This study examines whether perceived social support can predict the quality of life among farmers. A sample of 100 farmers between the ages of 25 and 50 years was selected from Western Uttar Pradesh using purposive sampling. Standardized tools including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the WHOQOL BREF were used to assess perceived social support and quality of life respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. Results showed a significant positive correlation between perceived social support and quality of life (r = .743, p < .01). Regression analysis further confirmed that perceived social support is a significant predictor of quality of life (B = 0.73, β = 0.74, p < .001). The findings emphasize the importance of strong social support in improving farmers’ living conditions. Strengthening social networks through community-based interventions could be a valuable strategy for enhancing the overall quality of life in agrarian populations.
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