The psychosocial stress model for Thai contract farmers under globalization: a Path analysis model

Background: From an occupational health perspective, one of the hazards in the workplace is psychosocial stress. However, the occupational health literature does not pay enough attention to psychosocial health hazards. This is especially true for stress among Thai contract farmers who experience psychosocial health hazards from the factors such as state policies, labor market, advanced technologies, and job environment such as employment and working conditions. The results of these factors contribute to stress and health inequality among Thai contract farmers under globalization. Objective: We constructed a psychosocial model that explains the cause of stress among Thai contract farmers resulting from globalization, which creates health hazards as defined in the occupational health field. Method: Primary data were collected from 200 Thai contract farmers using simple random sampling. The variables measured were general sociodemographic indicators, globalization, job environment, Thai labor market, and Thai state policy variables. 'The self-analyzed and self-evaluated stress' test was also used. The model of stress among Thai contract farmers was verified using Path analysis. Results: Transnational corporations and transnational economics had a direct effect on stress with a standardized regression weight of -0.200 and 0.209. Transnational corporations and state protection had a direct effect on natural resources with a standardized regression weight of -0.189 and -0.150. State protection and natural resources had a total effect on state regulation with a standardized regression weight of 0.784 and -0.092. Transnational practices and transnational economics had a total effect on the Thai labor market. Conclusion: The strength of the causal relationship between globalization and stress was investigated and indirect effects were found between several macrosocial variables examined and stress. These are new findings in the understanding of the distal causes of stress among Thai farmers.