IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i19p7205-d422774.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What Is Rural Adversity, How Does It Affect Wellbeing and What Are the Implications for Action?

Author

Listed:
  • Joanne Lawrence-Bourne

    (Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia)

  • Hazel Dalton

    (Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia)

  • David Perkins

    (Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia)

  • Jane Farmer

    (Social Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Georgina Luscombe

    (School of Rural Health, University of Sydney, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia)

  • Nelly Oelke

    (School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Nasser Bagheri

    (Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia)

Abstract

A growing body of literature recognises the profound impact of adversity on mental health outcomes for people living in rural and remote areas. With the cumulative effects of persistent drought, record-breaking bushfires, limited access to quality health services, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic and social challenges, there is much to understand about the impact of adversity on mental health and wellbeing in rural populations. In this conceptual paper, we aim to review and adapt our existing understanding of rural adversity. We undertook a wide-ranging review of the literature, sought insights from multiple disciplines and critically developed our findings with an expert disciplinary group from across Australia. We propose that rural adversity be understood using a rural ecosystem lens to develop greater clarity around the dimensions and experiences of adversity, and to help identify the opportunities for interventions. We put forward a dynamic conceptual model of the impact of rural adversity on mental health and wellbeing, and close with a discussion of the implications for policy and practice. Whilst this paper has been written from an Australian perspective, it has implications for rural communities internationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanne Lawrence-Bourne & Hazel Dalton & David Perkins & Jane Farmer & Georgina Luscombe & Nelly Oelke & Nasser Bagheri, 2020. "What Is Rural Adversity, How Does It Affect Wellbeing and What Are the Implications for Action?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7205-:d:422774
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/19/7205/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/19/7205/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minna Sadeniemi & Nerea Almeda & Jose A. Salinas-Pérez & Mencía R. Gutiérrez-Colosía & Carlos García-Alonso & Taina Ala-Nikkola & Grigori Joffe & Sami Pirkola & Kristian Wahlbeck & Jordi Cid & Luis Sa, 2018. "A Comparison of Mental Health Care Systems in Northern and Southern Europe: A Service Mapping Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Amit Shrira & Howard Litwin, 2014. "The Effect of Lifetime Cumulative Adversity and Depressive Symptoms on Functional Status," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(6), pages 953-965.
    3. Holly Vins & Jesse Bell & Shubhayu Saha & Jeremy J. Hess, 2015. "The Mental Health Outcomes of Drought: A Systematic Review and Causal Process Diagram," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Boyko, Jennifer A. & Lavis, John N. & Abelson, Julia & Dobbins, Maureen & Carter, Nancy, 2012. "Deliberative dialogues as a mechanism for knowledge translation and exchange in health systems decision-making," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(11), pages 1938-1945.
    5. Catherine Cosgrave, 2020. "Context Matters: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Service and Place Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australian Public Health Servic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-27, August.
    6. Elina Jaakkola, 2020. "Designing conceptual articles: four approaches," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 10(1), pages 18-26, June.
    7. Cummins, Steven & Curtis, Sarah & Diez-Roux, Ana V. & Macintyre, Sally, 2007. "Understanding and representing 'place' in health research: A relational approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1825-1838, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Emma Motrico & Jose A. Salinas-Perez & Maria Luisa Rodero-Cosano & Sonia Conejo-Cerón, 2021. "Editors’ Comments on the Special Issue “Social Determinants of Mental Health”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Ryuichi Ohta & Koichi Maiguma & Akiko Yata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "A Solution for Loneliness in Rural Populations: The Effects of Osekkai Conferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Kate Emond & Melanie Bish & Michael Savic & Dan I. Lubman & Terence McCann & Karen Smith & George Mnatzaganian, 2021. "Characteristics of Confidence and Preparedness in Paramedics in Metropolitan, Regional, and Rural Australia to Manage Mental-Health-Related Presentations: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    4. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Improvement in Quality of Life through Self-Management of Mild Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, May.
    5. Ryuichi Ohta & Akinori Ueno & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Changes in the Comprehensiveness of Rural Medical Care for Older Japanese Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Diane Coffey & Ashwini Deshpande & Jeffrey Hammer & Dean Spears, 2019. "Local Social Inequality, Economic Inequality, and Disparities in Child Height in India," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(4), pages 1427-1452, August.
    2. Linda Theron & Motlalepule Ruth Mampane & Liesel Ebersöhn & Angie Hart, 2020. "Youth Resilience to Drought: Learning from a Group of South African Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Mitchell, Richard & Dujardin, Claire & Popham, Frank & Farfan Portet, Maria-Isabel & Thomas, Isabelle & Lorant, Vincent, 2011. "Using matched areas to explore international differences in population health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1113-1122.
    4. Hanibuchi, Tomoya & Murata, Yohei & Ichida, Yukinobu & Hirai, Hiroshi & Kawachi, Ichiro & Kondo, Katsunori, 2012. "Place-specific constructs of social capital and their possible associations to health: A Japanese case study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 225-232.
    5. Spielman, Seth E. & Yoo, Eun-hye, 2009. "The spatial dimensions of neighborhood effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(6), pages 1098-1105, March.
    6. Vásquez-Vera, Hugo & Palència, Laia & Magna, Ingrid & Mena, Carlos & Neira, Jaime & Borrell, Carme, 2017. "The threat of home eviction and its effects on health through the equity lens: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 199-208.
    7. Plane, Jocelyn & Klodawsky, Fran, 2013. "Neighbourhood amenities and health: Examining the significance of a local park," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-8.
    8. Arnold, Michael & Hsu, Ling & Pipkin, Sharon & McFarland, Willi & Rutherford, George W., 2009. "Race, place and AIDS: The role of socioeconomic context on racial disparities in treatment and survival in San Francisco," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 121-128, July.
    9. Xiaoran Zheng & Yuzhuo Cai, 2022. "Transforming Innovation Systems into Innovation Ecosystems: The Role of Public Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    10. Bécares, Laia & Cormack, Donna & Harris, Ricci, 2013. "Ethnic density and area deprivation: Neighbourhood effects on Māori health and racial discrimination in Aotearoa/New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 76-82.
    11. Garthwaite, Kayleigh & Bambra, Clare, 2017. "“How the other half live”: Lay perspectives on health inequalities in an age of austerity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 268-275.
    12. Anna-Karin Ivert & Marie Torstensson Levander & Juan Merlo, 2013. "Adolescents' Utilisation of Psychiatric Care, Neighbourhoods and Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Deprivation: A Multilevel Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-1, November.
    13. Hale, James & Knapp, Corrine & Bardwell, Lisa & Buchenau, Michael & Marshall, Julie & Sancar, Fahriye & Litt, Jill S., 2011. "Connecting food environments and health through the relational nature of aesthetics: Gaining insight through the community gardening experience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1853-1863, June.
    14. Havlicek, Judy, 2011. "Lives in motion: A review of former foster youth in the context of their experiences in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1090-1100, July.
    15. Elizabeth Kassab Sfeir, 2022. "Impact of interpersonal influences on Employee engagement and Psychological contract: Effects of guanxi, wasta, jeitinho, blat and pulling strings," Papers 2209.05592, arXiv.org.
    16. Milligan, Christine & Roberts, Celia & Mort, Maggie, 2011. "Telecare and older people: Who cares where?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(3), pages 347-354, February.
    17. Michael Carolan, 2021. "Putting food access in its topological place: thinking in terms of relational becomings when mapping space," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 243-256, February.
    18. Yeongjin Gwon & Yuanyuan Ji & Jesse E. Bell & Azar M. Abadi & Jesse D. Berman & Austin Rau & Ronald D. Leeper & Jared Rennie, 2023. "The Association between Drought Exposure and Respiratory-Related Mortality in the United States from 2000 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-13, June.
    19. John Mamokhere, 2022. "Accountability, inclusivity, effectiveness, and leaving no one behind: An exploration of effective governance principles in ensuring clean water and sanitation in South African municipalities," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(10), pages 191-205, December.
    20. Madhan Balasubramanian & Stephanie Short, 2021. "The Future Health Workforce: Integrated Solutions and Models of Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-4, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7205-:d:422774. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.