Toward better support for mental workload: comparing dairy and poultry farmers' definitions and perceptions
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Mental workload is a growing concern for farmer mental health and farm sustainability, yet it remains under-researched among livestock farmers. Defined as the total cognitive effort required to perform a specific task within a given time frame (Longo, 2022), excessive workload can impair health and work motivation. This exploratory study aims to identify and weight key factors contributing to mental workload, farmers’ perceptions of these factors, and their coping strategies, with implications for support networks. Dairy and poultry farmers have been chosen to capture production- and sector-specific determinants.16 Breton farmers (8 dairy, 4 laying hen, 4 broiler ; 5 men, 5 women, all farm owners) were selected to capture diverse working situations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in spring 2024 and analyzed using thematic analysis. A qualitative approach was chosen to explore subjective experiences and context-specific determinants across production systems, allowing for transferability of findings to comparable farming contexts.Most farmers reported high mental workload, with only 4 considering it well balanced. Despite this, 11 of 16 expressed general satisfaction with farming, while 3 considered leaving. Respondents showed heterogeneous workloads and varying ability to take time off; most found work–life balance difficult to achieve and in need of improvement.A key contribution of this study is the identification of multidimensional, sector-specific contributors to mental workload, enriching our understanding of farmer mental health. The components of mental load are numerous and perceived differently by farmers. Animal care was demanding but well-accepted. Routine work burden was central for dairy farmers, especially those working alone or in couple, while poultry farmers emphasized sanitary management stress. Technical and economic pressure was a major shared stressor, though satisfactory remuneration helped make it bearable. Administrative tasks were increasingly burdensome, with fear of inspections more pronounced among dairy farmers. Paid labor was both a strain (due to human relations and administrative management for dairy farmers, and logistics and labor shortages for poultry farmers) and a lever for better time organization.Learning to communicate and share one's difficulties, whether with family, peers, or technical advisors, is often perceived as challenging but remains essential for alleviating mental burden. Many also pointed to perfectionism as a key mental strain amplifier. Farmers emphasized the importance of peer groups and local support—such as accountants, veterinarians, and advisors—in understanding and managing their mental workload.These findings underscore that mental workload management requires both on-farm strategies and a broader, better-equipped or sensitized professional support ecosystem.
Source: HAL
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7201918774