Abstract
BackgroundRecent global changes have led to an increase in distribution of ticks towards higher elevation and latitude in Europe and livestock are at increasing risk of contracting tick-borne diseases, but psychological aspects of how this affects human well-being are rarely assessed. Departing from the theory on emotional appraisal coming from psychology, this study investigates which factors that modulate worry and fear associated with the presence of ticks among livestock owners of sheep and/or cattle.MethodsSurvey data from 775 livestock owners in Norway were analysed by hierarchical multiple regression analysis with an index of fear of tick-borne diseases among livestock as the outcome variable.ResultsTwenty-nine per cent of the livestock owners reported worry and fear of tick-borne diseases among their livestock. The model explained 35% of the variance in worry and fear. There was a weak association between estimated incidences of tick-borne diseases in livestock and livestock owners’ worry and fear. Whereas previous personal experience of ticks and tick-borne diseases in livestock, and the livestock owners’ appraisals of the situation were more strongly associated with relatively stronger feelings of worry and fear.ConclusionsLivestock owners’ worry and fear of tick-borne diseases in livestock can partly be understood as their appraisals of perceived personal relevance of the presence of ticks, its potential negative implications for their daily life at large, and what potential they have to cope by different strategies to adapt or adjust to the situation.
Highlights
Recent global changes have led to an increase in distribution of ticks towards higher elevation and latitude in Europe and livestock are at increasing risk of contracting tick-borne diseases, but psychological aspects of how this affects human well-being are rarely assessed
Livestock owners’ worry and fear of tick‐bites and tick‐borne diseases In general, the livestock owners’ worry and fear of tickbites and tick-borne diseases among their livestock was low with a mean value on the lower part of the 11-graded scale
The symptoms mentioned were: reduced saƟsfactory leisure Ɵme be respected religion be cared for family life material saƟsfacƟon self-respect control develop knowledge restoraƟve space varied life saƟsfactory work biodiversity comfortable daily life good relaƟons beauƟful surroundings equity feel safe posiƟve experiences unpolluted nature health nature aestheƟc
Summary
Recent global changes have led to an increase in distribution of ticks towards higher elevation and latitude in Europe and livestock are at increasing risk of contracting tick-borne diseases, but psychological aspects of how this affects human well-being are rarely assessed. Recent global changes have led to an increase in distribution of ticks towards higher elevation and latitude in Europe [1] and in North America [2], and both humans and livestock are at increasing risk of contracting diseases vectored by ticks [3]. Lyme borreliosis in humans [5] Another common tickborne pathogen is Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing livestock fever (anaplasmosis) in cattle and sheep [6], and the piroplazmid Babesia divergens regularly cause babesiosis among livestock in Europe [7]. Disease hazard is used to assess how the public perceive the associated risks of developing tickborne diseases in humans [10], and identify drivers of adoption of protective behavior [11,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
