Study on Estimating Mental Hygiene of Farm Women: The Socio-ecological and Psychological Interpretation

The health-ecology and ecosystem has become very much vulnerable due to constant pollution,
extortion, ground water depletion, arsenic and heavy metal contaminated water. Agriculture has
undergone profound changes and farmers are facing a wide range of stressors. Both male and female
farmers have high level of depression than the general working population but the levels of anxiety
symptoms don’t differ. This study dealt with health ecosystem and health dynamics of farm women so
that they can combat various ecological and occupational problems as they are provider of food. This
study was conducted with objectives to generate classified information on the mental hygiene of farm
women. A survey was carried out at Kotulpur Block in Bankura district of West Bengal with one
hundred farm women as respondents and they were selected randomly. The data were collected
through pilot study, structured interview and focused group interview. The statistical tools used for
data analysis were correlation analysis, multiple regression and step-down regression analysis, path
analysis, factor analysis and artificial neural network analysis. Twenty independent variables were
selected for this study i.e. functional literacy, per capita income, menstrual hygiene, status of drinking
water etc. Distance of work place from residence (x7), duration of employment (x9), per capita income
(x12), per capita expenditure (x13), dizziness (x17) and status of drinking water (x19) are some of
those variables which have made a significant impact on the mental hygiene of farm women. Among
those variables, per capita income (x12) is the most important factor as it has exerted the highest
indirect effect on as many as 13 exogenous variables to characterize the mental hygiene of farm
women (y) in path analysis. It is very much relevant to the context of agro-ecosystem as farmers are
the provider of food for millions of people across the world. The whole civilization can survive only if
they survive.