Physical activity and health : an agrarian perspective
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Kirstie Chase Vitatoe (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Diane Gill
Abstract: The agrarian lifestyle represents a long-standing way of life, especially for farmers who live and/or work on small farms carry out physically demanding tasks to maintain their livelihood. Few studies have investigated the relationship between farming, physical activity, health, and well-being, though there is a small body of evidence that suggests agriculturally based lifestyles are positively associated with physical activity, as farmers are likely to leverage the human capacity for physical labor in their daily lives. This study employed mixed methods to explore the relationship between farming, physical activity, health, and well-being. Results revealed that farmers engaged in labor-intensive lifestyle practices that promoted their physical activity. Specifically, farmers indicated farm work required continuous movement throughout the day such that farm work provided the greatest contribution to physical activity when compared to transportation or recreational activity. Participants (n=55) averaged 1447.09 } 1013.36 minutes of occupational physical activity per week, while total weekly physical activity across three domains (work, transportation, and leisure) revealed an average of 1875.45 } 1416.45 activity minutes per week. Additional insights from this study revealed that farmers experienced unique challenges and benefits to their health. Farmers believed physical injury and psychological stress were among the greatest challenges to their health, while a sense of purpose, access to the outdoors, and ability to consume nutritious foods were believed to be health-promoting benefits of their lifestyle. These results make it possible to conclude that although farming presents certain challenges, farmers clearly indicated that farming promoted their PA, health and wellbeing. Findings from this study will be shared with farmers and used for continued research into the relationship between lifestyle, physical activity, and health.
Physical activity and health : an agrarian perspective
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Created on 8/1/2024
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2024
- Keywords
- Agrarian, Farming, Health, Physical Activity, Well-being
- Subjects
- Farmers $x Health and hygiene
- Agriculture $x Health aspects
- Exercise $x Health aspects
- Well-being