Type of indicators
Qualitative
Relative dimension and aggregated criteria
Social sustainability: Sustainability of social life: Social needs
Description
This indicator relates to the quality of life of farmers in terms of meeting their social needs (e.g., sense of belonging) outside of farming. This is measured through perceptions of isolation, social connection, and ability to spend quality time with friends and family.
Indicator calculation
Where:
𝑆𝑖 = Farmer response to statement 𝑖
𝑛 = Total amount of statements taken into account for this indicator
Responses to statements are measured on a 5-point Likert scales, ranging from strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree or disagree, agree, and strongly agree. For all statements, the value 1 indicates the highest level of social sustainability, and 5 represents the lowest level. Hence, the order of the 5-point scale depends on the direction of the statements (e.g., negative or positive expected effect on social sustainability).
Statements taken into account in this indicator and their expected effect on social sustainability are the following:
| Statements
|
Expected effect on social sustainability
|
| 𝑆1:
feel that I have the time and the opportunities to spend time with my friends and family. |
+ |
| S2:
I often feel lonely in my free time. |
– |
| S3:
I feel that I manage to spend quality time with my children, my family and friends in a satisfactory way without it coming into conflict with my tasks as a farmer. |
+ |
| S4:
I am concerned that some of my immediate family members may feel lonely and socially isolated. |
– |
Unit
Quantitative score, taking values from 1 to 5.
Indicator interpretation
Higher values indicate lower fulfillment of social needs related to social life.
Scale definition
| Scale | DEXi interpretation | Reference |
| [1; 1.5 ]
|
High | Based on expert opinion
|
| [1.5; 3.5 ]
|
Medium | |
| [3.5; 5]
|
Low |