Psycho-social factors associated with climate distress, hope and behavioural intentions in young UK residents

Bibliographic Data

ID19590662
AuthorsAns Vercammen (0000-0003-1229-9401, The University of Queensland, corresponding author), Tassia K Oswald (0000-0002-1686-7077, King's College London, corresponding author), Tassia Oswald, Emma Lawrance (0000-0003-1343-3916, Imperial College London, corresponding author)
EditorsMeghnath Dhimal (0000-0001-7176-7821)
Year2023
Volume3
Issue8
Pagese0001938
Publication date2023-08-23
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0001938
PMID37610987
OpenAlexW4386099641
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited44

Although the UK has been relatively spared significant geophysical impacts of climate change, many people, youth in particular, are increasingly worried about climate change. The psychological distress associated with the (perceived) threat of climate change has been linked to poorer mental wellbeing but can also promote adaptive responses such as engagement in pro-environmental behaviour. In this mixed methods study, we delve deeper into the experience of ‘climate distress’ among UK residents aged 16–24 (N = 539). We conducted an online survey assessing general mental health, subjective wellbeing, and climate distress with existing scales. We also included novel questions assessing positive and negative life impacts of climate change, open-ended questions on aspirations and priorities for the future, and engagement in pro-environmental and climate actions. Our findings indicate that mental health factors may contribute to vulnerability to climate distress. Predictably, socio-psychological responses to climate change (i.e., frustration over inaction, lack of control, and shame or guilt about one’s own contributions) were linked to higher scores on the climate distress scale. Negatively appraised climate change-related events (i.e., seeing an environment they care about change for the worse) were associated with higher climate distress. Individuals with high climate distress (10.1% of our sample) reported worrying about the impact of climate change on their own future more frequently than any other topic surveyed (including personal finance, career, relationships, politics). Both positive (hope/interest) and negative (anger/frustration) emotions inspired action-taking, especially climate activism, which was negatively predicted by guilt/shame and sadness/fear. Private-sphere pro-environmental actions appeared less driven by strong emotions. Overall, our findings present a more nuanced picture of climate distress in terms of emotional responses, behaviour, and mental health. Longitudinal research is urgently needed to understand how distress may change over time, and the conditions that lead to adaptive and maladaptive outcomes

Anger · Climate change · Distress · Mental health · Psychiatry · Shame · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Clinical Psychology · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychology · Social Psychology

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