Psychosocial adaptation as a coping strategy among older farmers facing drought in Thailand

The study examines how older farmers (aged 60–69) in drought-prone areas of Buriram Province, Thailand, perceive and respond to drought risk. With agricultural workforces aging globally, the study argues this is an urgent but understudied aspect of climate resilience. It uses stratified group discussions with experienced older farmers to explore the psychological and social factors that shape their decision-making around drought adaptation.

The study finds that older farmers' responses to drought are shaped by a complex mix of behavioral beliefs, social norms, self-efficacy, and cost-benefit thinking. Their decision-making is heavily peer-influenced through observation, imitation, and comparison with others  while community norms create social pressure to stick with traditional farming identities. At the same time, farmers apply their own practical judgments, weighing climate threats against the physical and financial costs of changing long-established habits, with their life stage and available resources heavily influencing what feels feasible. The study recommends strengthening peer-based knowledge sharing and community-led extension programs tailored specifically to older farmers to better support climate adaptation.