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Micoulaud-Franchi JA, Coelho J, Geoffroy PA, Vecchierini MF, Poirot I, Royant-Parola S, Hartley S, Cugy D, Gronfier C, Gauld C, Rey M. Eco-anxiety: An adaptive behavior or a mental disorder? Results of a psychometric study. L'ENCEPHALE 2024; 50:406-415. [PMID: 38429155 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Eco-anxiety is a complex construct that has been created to grasp the psychological impact of the consequences of global warming. The concept needs a reliably valid questionnaire to better evaluate its impact on the risk of anxiety and depressive disorders. The Eco-Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ-22) evaluates two dimensions: 'habitual ecological anxiety' and 'distress related to eco-anxiety'. However, a version in French, one of the world's widely spoken languages, was until now lacking. We aimed to translate and validate the French EAQ-22 and to evaluate the prevalence of the level of the two dimensions of eco-anxiety and the relationship with anxiety and depressive symptoms in a representative adult sample of the French general population. METHODS This study was performed under the auspices of the Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance (INSV). Participants (18-65 years) were recruited by an institute specialized in conducting online surveys of representative population samples (quota sampling). Two native French speakers and two native English speakers performed a forward-backward translation of the questionnaire. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) was administered to assess anxiety (HAD-A) and depressive (HAD-D) symptoms and for external validity. Internal structural validity and external validity were analysed. RESULTS Evaluation was performed on 1004 participants: mean age 43.47 years (SD=13.41, range: [19-66]); 54.1% (n=543) women. Using the HAD, 312 (31.1%) patients had current clinically significant anxiety symptoms (HAD-A>10) and 150 (14.9%) had current clinically significant depressive symptoms (HAD-D>10). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.934, indicating very good internal consistency. Correlation between EAQ-22 and HAD scores was low (r[1004]=0.209, P<0.001), 'habitual ecological anxiety' was correlated less with HAD-A and HAD-D than 'distress related to eco-anxiety', indicating good external validity. CONCLUSION This study validates the French EAQ-22 and paves the way for using the EAQ-22 as a global tool for assessing eco-anxiety. Further prospective studies are now required to better evaluate the impact of eco-anxiety on the occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi
- University Sleep Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Leon, 33076 Bordeaux, France; UMR CNRS 6033 SANPSY, University Hospital of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France.
| | - Julien Coelho
- University Sleep Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Leon, 33076 Bordeaux, France; UMR CNRS 6033 SANPSY, University Hospital of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre A Geoffroy
- Département de psychiatrie et d'addictologie, GHU Paris Nord, DMU Neurosciences, hôpital Bichat - Claude-Bernard, AP-HP, 75018 Paris, France; GHU Paris - Psychiatry & Neurosciences, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Françoise Vecchierini
- Centre du sommeil et de la vigilance, hôpital Hôtel Dieu, AP-HP, Paris, France; Sorbonne Paris Cité, université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Poirot
- Service de psychiatrie adulte, hôpital Fontan, CHU de Lille, Lille, France; Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France
| | | | - Sarah Hartley
- Réseau Morphée, Garches, France; EA 4047, Sleep Center, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, AP-HP, université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Garches, France
| | - Didier Cugy
- University Sleep Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Leon, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France
| | - Claude Gronfier
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Neurocampus, Waking Team, Inserm UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Lyon, France; Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, université de Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France; Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Gauld
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Grenoble, avenue du Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38000 Grenoble, France; Institut des sciences cognitives Marc-Jeannerod, UMR 5229 CNRS & université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Marc Rey
- Institut national du sommeil et de la vigilance, Paris, France
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Di Fabio A, Svicher A. The challenge of eco-generativity. Embracing a positive mindset beyond eco-anxiety: a research agenda. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1173303. [PMID: 38646126 PMCID: PMC11026589 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1173303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change has emerged as a tough challenge affecting the world's society and economy in the twenty-first century. Furthermore, it has been determined that global warming and climate change have detrimental effects on human health both physical and psychological. In this framework, eco-anxiety has emerged as a new construct to assess the distress in relation to climate change and its effects. In the current article, after a study of the literature regarding both eco-anxiety and generativity related to environmental issues, in the search for a healthy response to eco-anxiety, we propose the construct of eco-generativity as a sustainable development-related concept for the health of planet earth and people in the present and in the future. Accordingly, we explore the definitions of generativity in relation to the ecological environment, examining the development of the concept in accordance with the most recent research. Subsequently, according to the lens of psychology of sustainability and sustainable development, we propose key elements of eco-generativity in terms of construct and measures. Finally, a research agenda for future research and intervention on eco-generativity is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Di Fabio
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (Psychology Section), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Svicher
- THE-Tuscany Health Ecosystem NextGeneration UE-NRRP, Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (Psychology Section), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Carlson JM, Foley J, Fang L. Climate change on the brain: Neural correlates of climate anxiety. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 103:102848. [PMID: 38431988 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is a global crisis impacting individuals' mental health. Climate anxiety is an emerging area of interest within popular culture and the scientific community. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms underlying climate anxiety. We provide evidence that climate anxiety is related to gray matter volume in the midcingulate cortex as well as its level of functional connectivity with the insula cortex. These neuroanatomical and neurofunctional features of climate anxiety are involved in identifying and anticipating potential threats within the environment and preparing an appropriate action response to such threats. These neural correlates align with those observed in anxiety disorders. Yet, climate anxiety itself as well as the neural correlates of climate anxiety were related to pro-environmental behavior. This may suggest that the midcingulate and insula are part of a network linked to an adaptive aspect of climate anxiety in motivating behavioral engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Carlson
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA.
| | - John Foley
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Psychological Science, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
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4
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Contreras A, Blanchard MA, Mouguiama-Daouda C, Heeren A. When eco-anger (but not eco-anxiety nor eco-sadness) makes you change! A temporal network approach to the emotional experience of climate change. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 102:102822. [PMID: 38159371 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Research on the emotional experience of climate change has become a hot topic. Yet uncertainties remain regarding the interplay between climate change-related emotions (i.e., eco-anxiety, eco-anger, eco-sadness), general emotions (i.e., regardless of climate change), and pro-environmental behaviors. Most previous research has focused on cross-sectional studies, and eco-emotions in everyday life have seldom been considered. In this preregistered study, 102 participants from the general population rated their eco-emotions (i.e., eco-anxiety, eco-anger, eco-sadness), general emotions (i.e., anxiety, anger, sadness), and pro-environmental intentions and behaviors daily over a 60-day period. Using a multilevel vector autoregressive approach, we computed three network models representing temporal (i.e., from one time-point to the next), contemporaneous (i.e., during the same time-frame), and between-subject (i.e., similar to cross-sectional approach) associations between variables. Results show that eco-anger was the only predictor of pro-environmental intentions and behaviors over time. At the contemporaneous level, the momentary experience of each eco-emotion was associated with the momentary emotional experience of the corresponding general emotion, indicating the distinctiveness of each eco-emotion and the correspondence between its experience and that of its general, non-climate-related emotion. Overall, our findings 1) emphasize the driving role of eco-anger in prompting pro-environmental behaviors over time, 2) suggest a functional and experiential distinction between eco-emotions, and 3) provide data-driven clues for the field's larger quest to establish the scientific foundations of eco-emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Contreras
- Psychological Science Research Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Alexandre Heeren
- Psychological Science Research Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; National Foundation for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), Brussels, Belgium.
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Girardi G, Bremer AA. Climate and environmental changes exacerbate health disparities in pregnant people and their offspring. How can we protect women and their babies? Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2313. [PMID: 38348550 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of climate and environmental changes (CEC) are being felt globally and will worsen over the next decade unless significant changes are made on a global level. Climate change is having serious consequences for health, particularly for vulnerable women and their offspring and less resilient individuals in communities with socioeconomic inequalities. To protect human health from CEC effects, efforts need to be directed toward building resilience strategies. Building political and economic power, as well as directly addressing CEC-related challenges, are critical components of climate resilience. Effective communication and tailored methods to engage women in preventive strategies are also necessary to ameliorate the deleterious effects of CEC on women's health. Furthermore, women from marginalized communities face more CEC-associated challenges. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, effective policies and programs targeting these at-risk populations-are crucial to improve the overall state of global health. In closing, it is time to increase awareness of the effects of CECs on women's health and their transgenerational effects in order to ensure that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, education and income are protected from the detrimental effects of CECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina Girardi
- Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew A Bremer
- Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Mento C, Damiani F, La Versa M, Cedro C, Muscatello MRA, Bruno A, Fabio RA, Silvestri MC. Eco-Anxiety: An Evolutionary Line from Psychology to Psychopathology. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2053. [PMID: 38138156 PMCID: PMC10744953 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
According to the scientific literature, climate change, due to human activities, can damage the environment, with psycho-physical consequences for humans. The scientific literature has highlighted how severe weather events can cause fear, stress, concern for the future, and eco-anxiety. In light of this information, this study aims to explore the concept of eco-anxiety. However, climate change is still perceived as a secondary problem. It would also be worth investigating the real importance that people attach to environmental issues compared to other circumstances, such as wars or pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Mento
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.C.); (M.R.A.M.); (A.B.)
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Federica Damiani
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Michele La Versa
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Clemente Cedro
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.C.); (M.R.A.M.); (A.B.)
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.C.); (M.R.A.M.); (A.B.)
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Antonio Bruno
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.C.); (M.R.A.M.); (A.B.)
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
| | - Rosa Angela Fabio
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, Via dei Verdi 75, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Maria Catena Silvestri
- Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Contesse, 98125 Messina, Italy; (F.D.); (M.L.V.); (M.C.S.)
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Thomson EE, Roach SP. The relationships among nature connectedness, climate anxiety, climate action, climate knowledge, and mental health. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1241400. [PMID: 38034293 PMCID: PMC10684686 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1241400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Climate change is a source of global concern that has both direct and general impacts on mental health. A recent study conducted following severe bushfires in Australia demonstrated relationships among nature connectedness, climate action, climate worry, and mental health; for example, nature connectedness was associated with climate worry, which in turn was associated with psychological distress. Methods The present study sought to replicate those findings while building on them in two important ways: on those findings in two ways: first, test similar relationships in a different geographical context that has been mostly spared from direct impacts by acute climate events; second, we take into consideration an additional factor, climate knowledge, which has been linked to relevant factors such as climate anxiety. Results The results of a survey completed by 327 adults revealed a similar relationship between nature connectedness and climate anxiety, and between that and psychological distress. Further mirroring those previous findings, nature connectedness was associated with both individual and collective climate action, but the relationships between them and psychological distress differed. Discussion The proposed model was a better fit to the collected data among those with high levels of climate change knowledge than those with low levels, suggesting that such knowledge influences how the above factors relate to each other.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sean P. Roach
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick Saint John, Saint John, NB, Canada
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Sampaio F, Costa T, Teixeira-Santos L, de Pinho LG, Sequeira C, Luís S, Loureiro A, Soro JC, Roldán Merino J, Moreno Poyato A, Peña Loray JS, Rodríguez Quiroga A, O'Brien LV, Hogg TL, Stanley SK. Validating a measure for eco-anxiety in Portuguese young adults and exploring its associations with environmental action. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1905. [PMID: 37784133 PMCID: PMC10546781 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16816-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worsening environmental conditions may amplify people's emotional responses to an environmental crisis (eco-anxiety). In Portugal, young people seem to be especially concerned about climate change. However, this phenomenon needs to be interpreted using accurate instruments. Thus, this study aimed to validate the Portuguese version of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) in young adults and examine the associations among eco-anxiety, sociodemographic characteristics, and pro-environmental behaviours. METHODS A survey was administered to 623 Portuguese university students aged between 18 and 25 years. The survey included our Portuguese translation of the HEAS (obtained through a back-translation and pretesting process), a sociodemographic assessment, and questions related to pro-environmental behaviours. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the construct validity of the Portuguese version of the HEAS, and global fit indices were used to assess whether the original four-dimensional structure of the scale was reproduced. The reliability of the Portuguese version of the HEAS was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Measurement invariance examined sex differences in scale interpretation. Linear regressions were used to detect whether sociodemographic variables predict eco-anxiety and whether eco-anxiety predicts pro-environmental behaviours. RESULTS The factorial structure of the original scale was replicated in the Portuguese version of the HEAS, showing good internal consistency, reliability over time and strict invariance between men and women. A higher paternal education level predicted greater eco-anxiety in children. Two dimensions of eco-anxiety-namely, rumination and anxiety about personal impacts on the environment-predicted higher engagement in pro-environmental behaviours. CONCLUSIONS The translated scale is an appropriate tool to measure eco-anxiety in the Portuguese context and should be used to collect evidence to drive environmental and health policies. An individual's education level should be considered a determinant of their emotional response to environmental conditions. Importantly, eco-anxiety can act as a protective emotional response to preserving the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sampaio
- Nursing School of Porto, Porto, 4200-072, Portugal.
- CINTESIS@RISE, Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), Porto, 4200-450, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Costa
- CINTESIS@RISE, Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), Porto, 4200-450, Portugal
- Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia / Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, 4434-502, Portugal
- Portuguese Red Cross Northern Health School, Oliveira de Azeméis, 3720-126, Portugal
| | - Luísa Teixeira-Santos
- CINTESIS@RISE, Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), Porto, 4200-450, Portugal
- Nursing School of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3004-011, Portugal
| | - Lara Guedes de Pinho
- Nursing Department, Universidade de Évora, Évora, 7000-811, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Universidade de Évora, Évora, 7002-554, Portugal
| | - Carlos Sequeira
- Nursing School of Porto, Porto, 4200-072, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), Porto, 4200-450, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Luís
- HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona University, Lisboa, 1749-024, Portugal
- Centro de Administração e Políticas Públicas, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1300-663, Portugal
| | - Ana Loureiro
- HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona University, Lisboa, 1749-024, Portugal
| | - Jerônimo C Soro
- HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona University, Lisboa, 1749-024, Portugal
| | - Juan Roldán Merino
- School of Nursing, Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu - Fundació Privada, Sant Boi de LLobregat, Barcelona, 08830, Spain
- Mental Health, Psychosocial and Complex Nursing Care Research Group (NURSEARCH), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08007, Spain
| | - Antonio Moreno Poyato
- Public Health, Mental Health and Maternal-Infant Nursing Department, Nursing College, Universitat de Barcelona, Health Sciences Campus Bellvitge, Barcelona, 08007, Spain
| | | | | | - Léan V O'Brien
- Discipline of Psychology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Teaghan L Hogg
- Discipline of Psychology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Samantha K Stanley
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
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Daeninck C, Kioupi V, Vercammen A. Climate anxiety, coping strategies and planning for the future in environmental degree students in the UK. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1126031. [PMID: 37564302 PMCID: PMC10409990 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is increasing recognition of the mental health burden of climate change and the effects on general well-being, even in those who have not (yet) experienced direct impacts. Climate anxiety, which is prominent among young people in particular, describes a state of heightened distress about the (future) effects of climate change. Despite evidence of a link between engagement in climate change issues and heightened climate anxiety, there is a dearth of knowledge on how this affects emerging professionals preparing for careers in the environmental sector. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature regarding the extent to which young adults are coping with their thoughts and feelings about climate change, and the extent to which they consider climate change in making future plans. Methods The aim of this study was to understand the occurrence and personal management of climate anxiety in UK university students through an online questionnaire. This study was the first to investigate the association between climate anxiety, coping strategies and future planning in university students. Results and discussion Environmental degree students (n = 249) reported greater levels of climate anxiety, more frequent employment of all three examined coping strategies and in particular considered climate change as a factor in their career plans, as compared to their non-environmental degree counterparts (n = 224). Problem-focused coping was the most commonly endorsed strategy, although the prior literature on coping suggests that this may not be sustainable for individually intractable problems. Highly climate-anxious students were more likely to consider climate change in all five decision-making domains, including family planning, long-term habitation, career, financial and travel decisions. This study has identified a need to communicate effective climate anxiety coping strategies to environmental practitioners, university students and educators. Additional research is required to validate the study findings and investigate what motivates students to incorporate climate change into future plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cami Daeninck
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vasiliki Kioupi
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ans Vercammen
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Heeren A, Mouguiama-Daouda C, McNally RJ. A network approach to climate change anxiety and its key related features. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 93:102625. [PMID: 36030121 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Research has pointed to startling worldwide rates of people reporting considerable anxiety vis-à-vis climate change. Yet, uncertainties remain regarding how climate anxiety's cognitive-emotional features and daily life functional impairments interact with one another and with climate change experience, pro-environmental behaviors, and general worry. In this study, we apply network analyses to examine the associations among these variables in an international community sample (n = 874). We computed two network models, a graphical Gaussian model to explore network structure, potential communities, and influential nodes, and a directed acyclic graph to examine the probabilistic dependencies among the variables. Both network models pointed to the cognitive-emotional features of climate anxiety as a potential hub bridging general worry, the experience of climate change, pro-environmental behaviors, and the functional impairments associated with climate anxiety. Our findings offer data-driven clues for the field's larger quest to establish the foundations of climate anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Heeren
- Psychological Science Research Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; National Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), Brussels, Belgium.
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11
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Heeren A, Asmundson GJG. Understanding climate anxiety: What decision-makers, health care providers, and the mental health community need to know to promote adaptative coping. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 93:102654. [PMID: 36414530 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Heeren
- Psychological Science Research Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; National Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), Brussels, Belgium.
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12
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Hajek A, König H. Climate anxiety in Germany. Public Health 2022; 212:89-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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