The effect of psychological distance on climate concerns and drought adaptation behaviors of farmers in Shushtar County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Prof. Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

2 Associate Prof. Higher Education Institute of Applied Science, Ministry of Jihad-Keshavarzi, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The primary aim of this research is to examine the impact of psychological distance on farmers' adaptation behaviors to drought, with climate concerns serving as a mediating factor. The study's statistical population comprises all farmers in Shushtar City, Khuzestan Province. A sample size of 395 individuals was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table, and a multi-stage sampling method with proportional assignment was employed. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire, whose form and content validity were confirmed by faculty members from the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. The reliability of the questionnaire was established through Cronbach's alpha. The Average Variance Extracted (AVE) index was utilized to assess convergent validity, while the Composite Reliability (CR) index was employed to determine the model's reliability. This research indicated that the dimensions of psychological distance (geographical, social, temporal, and hypothetical) account for 72.2% of the variance in climate concerns. Additionally, the research variables were able to explain 65.5% of the variance in the use of adaptive behaviors. The results of this research are crucial for agricultural activists and officials to understand how farmers perceive the risks of climate change and drought, and how they are influenced by adopting adaptation methods. This knowledge is essential for developing effective drought strategies.

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Main Subjects


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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 January 2025
  • Receive Date: 22 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 20 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 12 January 2025