Socio‐ecological systems and distress 647
expansion of contract farming were wealthier families with large amounts of land, many of whom were Indigenous Banyoro. However, this expansion reportedly displaced sub- sistence farming, potentially exacerbating social determinants of psychological distress amongst poorer households (Fig. 5). The Ugandan government has sought to promote contract farming models as a tool for poverty alleviation (White et al., 2012). However, our results corroborate other studies suggesting that this model could have limitations in terms of delivering pro-poor development (Mwavu et al., 2018; Martiniello, 2021). More broadly, numerous studies across various countries illustrate the diverse impacts of commercial agriculture on smallholder farming systems, sometimes contributing to food insecurity and poverty amongst vulner- able groups (Hall et al., 2017). For example, agriculture com- mercialization has been linked to global market exposure, indebtedness and uncertain yields, leading to high rates of suicide in some farming communities (Mohanakumar & Sharma, 2006).
FIG. 5 Hypothesized causal connections between two socio-ecological action situations, social determinants and psychological distress affecting respondents in Nyabyeya Parish, Uganda.
context this could mean acknowledging and acting on peo- ple’s concerns about landscape management and policy (Bennett, 2016). For example, the Ugandan Government should investigate how rural residents view conservation, and avoid policies that are perceived to worsen inequalities and trigger ‘thinking too much’. This process could be facili- tated by strengthening the decentralized governance system in Uganda (Mushemeza, 2019), with local councils soliciting the perspectives of residents and raising these perspectives with decision-makers in central government. Perceptions can also influence attitudes and behaviours
and the success of projects that depend on local support (Bennett, 2016). For example, perceptions regarding forests as a source of resources and a home for crop-eating wildlife (both reportedly indirectly linked to ‘thinking too much’) may influence attitudes towards their protection. Pre- venting or compensating for human–wildlife conflict has been a persistent issue in the study area and elsewhere in East Africa. However, there are emerging innovations that Ugandan authorities could consider, such as community- operated compensation schemes (Watve et al., 2016). If suc- cessful, such interventions might reduce experiences of ‘thinking too much’ and foster support for local forest con- servation, potentially contributing to sustainable develop- ment and biodiversity goals.
Agro-ecological systems and ‘thinking too much’ The prominence of the sugarcane industry across responses was unexpected, but this theme emerged as important. Our findings indicate that most of those who benefitted from the
Study limitations
This study was primarily focused on the perspectives of re- spondents. Local and Indigenous knowledge can be a valu- able source of information for landscape management and conservation decision-making (Wheeler & Root-Bernstein, 2020). However, these perspectives are also shaped by social and cognitive factors. As such, the current study may not have captured the full breadth of possible linkages between interactions with ecosystems and social determinants of psychological distress. Moreover, residents may have an inaccurate understanding of socio-ecological dynamics or strategically misreported their responses to gain future benefits. Further research could integrate long-term moni- toring of socio-ecological dynamics to evaluate the reliability of the perceptions of respondents.
Conclusion
In this exploratory study, we have applied a new framework that situates social determinants of psychological distress in socio-ecological systems. We find that nature conservation and commercial agriculture could influence social determi- nants of psychological distress. Our case study indicates op- portunities to manage perceived co-benefits and trade-offs between the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby poten- tially improving subjective experiences of mental health, and demonstrates the importance of taking a more holistic and locally nuanced approach to understanding how peo- ple’s relationships with ecosystems relate to psychological distress and mental health.
Author contributions Study design: TP, AK, EK, CA, GM, EJM-G; fieldwork:TP;dataanalysis:TP,AK, EK, BLK, EJM-G;writing:all authors.
Oryx, 2024, 58(5), 641–649 © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605323001710
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