Assessing changes in quality of life and independent living and working levels among AgrAbility farmers and ranchers with disabilities

Abstract

BackgroundWhile emerging research has focused on quality of life (QOL) levels among farmers and ranchers with disabilities, much work is still needed on this largely understudied population. The AgrAbility Project, a USDA initiative, offers pragmatic solutions to increase farmers and ranchers with disabilities' QOL and ability to work and live independently (ILW). ObjectivesTo assess pretest-posttest changes in farmers and ranchers with disabilities' ILW and QOL levels after participating in AgrAbility, to identify demographic predictors of ILW and QOL (e.g. with whom AgrAbility works best), and to determine how much variance in QOL is accounted for by change in ILW levels. MethodsParticipants (N = 191) included farmers and ranchers from 10 states with various disabilities who participated in AgrAbility. They completed ILW and McGill QOL measures before and after AgrAbility. ResultsPaired samples t-tests highlighted that participants' ILW and QOL levels improved (p < 0.001) with large or larger than typical effect sizes. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that change in ILW over time was qualified by age and origin of disability. Regression results revealed that change in ILW predicted 13% of the variance in QOL change. ConclusionsThese results suggest that participation in the AgrAbility Project was positively associated with increased ILW and QOL levels. AgrAbility participants reported increases in their QOL levels and their ability to continue their work and live in their homes. Further research is needed to compare results with a no-treatment comparison group of similar ranchers and farmers with disabilities.