Níveis de estresse e estressores ocupacionais em agricultores familiares em um município brasileiro

Family farming has been considered a dangerous activity, full of unforeseen events and generating high levels of stress. Stress is an interdisciplinary concept and is understood as an evaluative process that triggers psychophysiological responses aimed at adapting a person to situations perceived as stressful. When stressors are assessed as exceeding the individual's ability to deal with them or when exposure lasts for a certain time, it can lead to damage to physical and psychological health. Given this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the stress level of family farmers in the municipality of Araçatuba-SP. Specifically, it sought to identify sociodemographic characteristics, identify the prevalence of physical and psychological symptoms, and identify occupational stressors. It was cross-sectional research, a bibliographic survey, applied nature, exploratory-descriptive objective, quali-quantitative approach, with literature review and survey procedures. The following data collection instruments were used: Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL), a Likert scale form to identify and measure occupational stressors in family farming activities, and a form to collect sociodemographic data. Data were statistically described, and univariate and multivariate inferences were made. The results revealed that most research participants had mild and moderate stress levels and the prevalence of physical symptoms. The main categories of stressors were uncontrollable factors, lack of assistance/machinery breakdown, low appreciation of the profession and finances.