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As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of droughts, adaptive behavior becomes increasingly crucial. Farmers' capacity to modify their practices in response to evolving climate conditions is vital for ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability and food security. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the psychological factors affecting farmers' adaptation behaviors in response to drought, using the health belief model. The sample comprised 380 farmers from Kohdashat County in Lorestan Province, western Iran, selected via a three-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that self-efficacy; perceived benefits, perceived vulnerability, and perceived barriers explained about 49% of the variance in farmers’ adaptation behavior. Perceived benefits emerged as the strongest predictor of adaptation, while cues to action and perceived severity were insignificant. These findings support the health belief model's practicality and effectiveness in examining water conservation behavior among Iranian farmers.
 

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The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused anxiety and fear in humans, has negatively affected the mental health of millions of people. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 disease on mental health of Iranian rural households. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 375 rural households from October 2nd to 29^th, 2020. Data was gathered using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to evaluate the factors associated with mental health. High rates of paranoid ideation disorder (64.6%), interpersonal sensitivity (59.5%), and hostility (48.1%) were recorded among the Iranian rural population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Females tended to show more symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and paranoid ideation. Additionally, gender, the number of children, amount of loans, loss of a family member or friend due to COVID-19, worry about food insecurity, exposure to news about COVID-19, and access to medical centers were significant predictors of mental health. These findings indicate the need for public policies centered on mental disorders in rural areas during the COVID19 pandemic and the need for measures to protect vulnerable groups in the rural population.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant health challenge humans experienced since World War 2, and its course can be affected by the stringency in undertaking individual and collective protective behavior. In this study, the health belief model structures in adopting the protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed. A sample of 375 household heads living in the rural areas of Lorestan Province was selected through a multi-stage stratified and random sampling method. Structural equation modeling showed that knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, and cues to action affect the protective behaviors of Iranian rural households during COVID-19. Cues to action and knowledge were the most important predictors of protective behaviors in rural households. The results suggest the necessity to emphasize enhancing knowledge to highlight the negative impacts of COVID-19 and train rural households regarding the proper and effective preventive measures.