Motivations, experiences and challenges of being a care farmer –results of a survey of Norwegian care farmers

BACKGROUND: Care farming is an increasing part of multifunctional agriculture. Still there are few studies on how the farmers experience their working situation. OBJECTIVE: To describe care farmers’ relevant education, motivation, perceived support, involvement with participants, and perceived strain. We also wanted to investigate the possible relationship between different variables and level of perceived strain. METHODS: A total of 98 (67%) Norwegian care farmers answered a postal questionnaire in 2011 on demography, motivation, relevant education, involvement in participants, and 11 statements describing perceived strain of care farming. A sum-score of the 11 statements was constructed, and a linear regression model was used to explore the relationships between total perceived strain and the other variables. RESULTS: Of the farmers 40% had relevant education. Their main motivation was economical (53%) or “idealistic” (47%). 80% reported that care farming had increased their quality of life. Still the majority experienced it to be socially demanding, and 26% did not receive support from professionals. Higher total perceived strain was found for men, low education, no perceived support, high degree of involvement, and less perceived functionality of participants. The model explained 40% of the variance in total perceived strain. CONCLUSION: More systematic cooperation and supervision from the social and health care system might be needed, in order to ensure a health promoting work situation for these care farmers.