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Qiu S, Qiu J. From individual resilience to collective response: reframing ecological emotions as catalysts for holistic environmental engagement. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1363418. [PMID: 38903457 PMCID: PMC11188184 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363418] [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: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ongoing international study on the mental health implications of climate change has prompted a deeper exploration of ecological emotions such as eco-anxiety, eco-worry and eco-grief, which are associated with environmental degradation and the escalating climate crisis. Although psychological and mental health literature has mainly presented preliminary conceptual analyses, the understanding of ecological emotions remains unclear. This narrative review aims to clarify the definition, highlight precipitating factors, and outline the effects of ecological emotions on mental health, emphasizing the need for thorough research to shift the nonclinical intervention approach from merely promoting individual resilience to encouraging collective engagement. Our analysis of the literature reveals that the existing theoretical framework, which predominantly focuses on bolstering individual resilience, provides only temporary relief for acute symptoms without addressing the foundational social and environmental factors that trigger these ecological emotions. We conclude that it is crucial to overcome the limitations of Western anthropocentrism's human-to-human interaction approach and embrace the unity of humans and nature to effectively manage the increasing ecological emotions. This perspective draws insights from the holistic and collective wisdom of indigenous cultures and traditional Chinese philosophy, offering a potential pathway toward maintaining a sustainable emotional balance amid the worsening global ecological turmoil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shicun Qiu
- School of Foreign Languages, Sichuan University of Arts and Science, Dazhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiacun Qiu
- Business School, Guangdong Business and Technology University, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China
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Lau SSS, Fong JWL, van Rijsbergen N, McGuire L, Ho CCY, Cheng MCH, Tse D. Emotional responses and psychological health among young people amid climate change, Fukushima's radioactive water release, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the mediating roles of media exposure and nature connectedness: a cross-national analysis. Lancet Planet Health 2024; 8:e365-e377. [PMID: 38849179 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00097-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND New global crises are emerging, while existing global crises remain unabated. Coping with climate change, the radioactive water released into the Pacific Ocean subsequent to the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East (hereafter referred to as the wars) as individual crises can negatively affect the psychological health of young people, but little is known about the compounded impact of multiple crises. We aimed to examine: (1) the emotional responses of young people towards each individual crisis, (2) how aggregate levels of emotional engagement in global crises might pose different potential trajectories in psychological health, and (3) the protective or exacerbating role of media exposure and nature connectedness as mediators on psychological health outcomes of young people. METHODS We conducted a cross-national online survey among young people (aged 18-29 years) from China, Portugal, South Africa, the USA, and the UK. We adopted stratified purposive sampling and distributed the survey using online platforms (www.wenjuan.com and www.prolific.com). Individuals were eligible for inclusion in our analysis if they were literate in Chinese or English and had no mental disorders diagnosed within the past 12 months. Participants were asked questions on their demographic characteristics and time spent on social media, including proportion of time exposed to media pertaining to global crises of interest, and they completed surveys based on validated scales that measure depression, anxiety, stress, and wellbeing, as well as emotional responses to each global crisis and nature relatedness. We assessed the survey results using descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests, cluster analysis for individual emotional responses, and structural equation modelling for the aggregate measure of emotional engagement towards individual global crises. FINDINGS Between Oct 20 and Nov 3, 2023, 2579 individuals participated in the survey, of whom 400 participants from each country (200 male and 200 female participants) were included in our analysis (mean age 24·36 years [SD 2·86]). The mean emotional engagement varied between the global crises of interest (on a scale from 0 to 68, where 0 indicates no emotional response and 68 indicates strong emotional responses across 17 different emotions; wars: 32·42 [SD 14·57]; climate change: 28·79 [14·17]; radioactive water: 21·26 [16·08]), and emotional engagement also varied by country; for instance, for respondents from China, mean emotional engagement in radioactive water was relatively high (39·15 [10·72]) compared with the other countries, and for respondents from the USA, engagement with the wars was relatively low (29·45 [15·78]). We found significant variations in the level of emotional engagement between different crises, with distinct emotional profiles observed among individual countries. To assess the role of media exposure and nature connectedness on psychological outcomes, using structural equation modelling, we constructed a multi-country model comprising Portugal, South Africa, the USA, and the UK, and a standalone model for China. These models elucidated associations between emotional engagement and psychological distress and wellbeing, explaining substantial portions of the variance in both. Notably, while greater emotional engagement in the ecological crises (ie, climate change and radioactive water) generally predicted worse psychological health outcomes, we found the direction of effect for war crises to have positive outcomes for mental health in the standalone China model. Additionally, we found that media exposure mediated the negative effect of wars on psychological distress in the multi-country model, and positive psychological wellbeing in the standalone China model. Moreover, nature connectedness emerged as a potent mediator, effectively mitigating the adverse mental health effects of emotional engagement with some crises, such as radioactive water and climate change. INTERPRETATION Our findings offer valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of emotional engagement in global crises and its implications for mental health outcomes among young people across diverse global contexts. Further research is needed to understand the contribution of ongoing and new global crises towards a compounded negative future outlook on young people's mental health to identify effective communication and intervention strategies that can mitigate the effect of this global challenge. FUNDING Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam S S Lau
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; College of International Education, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
| | - Jason W L Fong
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | | | - Laura McGuire
- Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK
| | - Cherry C Y Ho
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Division of Nursing Education, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Marco C H Cheng
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Dorothy Tse
- Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK
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3
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Sisodiya SM, Gulcebi MI, Fortunato F, Mills JD, Haynes E, Bramon E, Chadwick P, Ciccarelli O, David AS, De Meyer K, Fox NC, Davan Wetton J, Koltzenburg M, Kullmann DM, Kurian MA, Manji H, Maslin MA, Matharu M, Montgomery H, Romanello M, Werring DJ, Zhang L, Friston KJ, Hanna MG. Climate change and disorders of the nervous system. Lancet Neurol 2024; 23:636-648. [PMID: 38760101 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(24)00087-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is affecting people's health, including those with neurological and psychiatric diseases. Currently, making inferences about the effect of climate change on neurological and psychiatric diseases is challenging because of an overall sparsity of data, differing study methods, paucity of detail regarding disease subtypes, little consideration of the effect of individual and population genetics, and widely differing geographical locations with the potential for regional influences. However, evidence suggests that the incidence, prevalence, and severity of many nervous system conditions (eg, stroke, neurological infections, and some mental health disorders) can be affected by climate change. The data show broad and complex adverse effects, especially of temperature extremes to which people are unaccustomed and wide diurnal temperature fluctuations. Protective measures might be possible through local forecasting. Few studies project the future effects of climate change on brain health, hindering policy developments. Robust studies on the threats from changing climate for people who have, or are at risk of developing, disorders of the nervous system are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont-St-Peter, UK.
| | - Medine I Gulcebi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont-St-Peter, UK
| | - Francesco Fortunato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont-St-Peter, UK
| | - James D Mills
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont-St-Peter, UK
| | - Ethan Haynes
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont-St-Peter, UK
| | - Elvira Bramon
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Chadwick
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Olga Ciccarelli
- Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; National Institute of Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Anthony S David
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kris De Meyer
- UCL Climate Action Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nick C Fox
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Department of the UK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Martin Koltzenburg
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Hadi Manji
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Mark A Maslin
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK; Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manjit Matharu
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Hugh Montgomery
- Department of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marina Romanello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - David J Werring
- Stroke Research Centre, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lisa Zhang
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
| | - Karl J Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael G Hanna
- Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; MRC International Centre for Genomic Medicine in Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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4
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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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5
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Dennis MK, Stock P. "You're Asking Me to Put into Words Something That I Don't Put into Words.": Climate Grief and Older Adult Environmental Activists. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2024; 67:281-296. [PMID: 37727029 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2023.2259942] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Globally, climate change is leading to environmental crises, which activists have been fighting against for decades. Social scientists have rarely considered older adults as environmentalists and their feelings about climate change. Most studies focus on younger people's emotions or concerns about environmental crises. The purpose of this study is to explore the emotional responses and coping strategies related to environmental degradation of older adult environmental activists. We conducted a qualitative research study with 20 participants who were over the age of 60 years, engaged in environmentalism and living in Kansas, USA. We utilized thematic analysis to identify the following themes: a) Emotional Experiences of Environmental Destruction, b) Destruction of Specific Landscapes, and c) Coping Strategies including Environmental Justice Activism. Despite navigating the emotions of loss and grief in response to the destruction of specific places and certain political concerns, often without the language or concepts of environmental grief, these participants have and continue to direct their efforts toward protecting the environment. They have contributed for decades in the hopes of preserving the Earth for future generations and eagerly seek engagement with younger activists to both share grief, and, more importantly, do the work that needs to be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kate Dennis
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Paul Stock
- Sociology and the Environmental Studies Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Contreras A, Butter S, Granziol U, Panzeri A, Peinado V, Trucharte A, Zavlis O, Valiente C, Vázquez C, Murphy J, Bertamini M, Shevlin M, Hartman TK, Bruno G, Mignemi G, Spoto A, Vidotto G, Bentall RP. The network structure of psychopathological and resilient responses to the pandemic: A multicountry general population study of depression and anxiety. J Trauma Stress 2024; 37:126-140. [PMID: 37957806 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Commonly identified patterns of psychological distress in response to adverse events are characterized by resilience (i.e., little to no distress), delayed (i.e., distress that increases over time), recovery (i.e., distress followed by a gradual decrease over time), and sustained (i.e., distress remaining stable over time). This study aimed to examine these response patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety and depressive symptom data collected across four European countries over the first year of the pandemic were analyzed (N = 3,594). Participants were first categorized into groups based on the four described patterns. Network connectivity and symptom clustering were then estimated for each group and compared. Two thirds (63.6%) of the sample displayed a resilience pattern. The sustained distress network (16.3%) showed higher connectivity than the recovery network (10.0%) group, p = .031; however, the resilient network showed higher connectivity than the delayed network (10.1%) group, p = .016. Regarding symptom clustering, more clusters emerged in the recovery network (i.e., three) than the sustained network (i.e., two). These results replicate findings that resilience was the most common mental health pattern over the first pandemic year. Moreover, they suggest that high network connectivity may be indicative of a stable mental health response over time, whereas fewer clusters may be indicative of a sustained distress pattern. Although exploratory, the network perspective provides a useful tool for examining the complexity of psychological responses to adverse events and, if replicated, could be useful in identifying indicators of protection against or vulnerability to future psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Contreras
- Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Area of Personality, Assessment and Clinical intervention, University Autonoma of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarah Butter
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Umberto Granziol
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Panzeri
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Vanesa Peinado
- Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Trucharte
- Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Camilo Jose Cela University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Orestis Zavlis
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Carmen Valiente
- Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmelo Vázquez
- Department of Personality Assessment and Clinical Psychology, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jamie Murphy
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Marco Bertamini
- Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Todd K Hartman
- School of Social Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Giovanni Bruno
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mignemi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Spoto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulio Vidotto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Richard P Bentall
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Parmentier ML, Weiss K, Aroua A, Betry C, Rivière M, Navarro O. The influence of environmental crisis perception and trait anxiety on the level of eco-worry and climate anxiety. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 101:102799. [PMID: 38091939 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102799] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Eco-anxiety, which refers to the anxiety experienced in response to worsening environmental conditions, is a growing global phenomenon. Climate change anxiety, due to the escalating impact of ongoing climate change, stands out as the most commonly recognized form of eco-anxiety. Nevertheless, numerous uncertainties persist regarding the relationship of this eco-anxiety response to pro-environmental behaviors, as well as its connection with trait anxiety and the perception of the environmental crisis. In this study, we conducted an analysis with a sample size of 431 participants to elucidate the respective implications of these factors, delving into the different facets of the eco-anxiety response: worry and anxiety-related impairments. We measured eco-worry using a brief 5-item scale and assessed climate anxiety-related impairments using the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS). Our findings reveal that eco-worry acts as a mediator between the perception of the environmental crisis and the manifestation of climate anxiety-related impairments. Furthermore, eco-worry plays a constructive role in relation to the commitment to pro-environmental behaviors, with no additional contribution from the climate anxiety reaction involving impairments. In summary, our findings underscore the existence of distinct constructs within the anxiety response to climate change and environmental issues, each with different contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laure Parmentier
- IGF, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, 141 rue de la cardonille, 34094 CEDEX 05 Montpellier, France; UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France.
| | - Karine Weiss
- UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France; Laboratoire CHROME, Détection, Évaluation, Gestion des Risques CHROniques et éMErgents, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France
| | - Aya Aroua
- UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France
| | - Camille Betry
- UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France
| | - Mathilda Rivière
- UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France
| | - Oscar Navarro
- UNIMES, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France; Laboratoire CHROME, Détection, Évaluation, Gestion des Risques CHROniques et éMErgents, Université de Nîmes, rue du Docteur Georges Salan CS13019, 30021 Nimes, France
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Plohl N, Mlakar I, Musil B, Smrke U. Measuring young individuals' responses to climate change: validation of the Slovenian versions of the climate anxiety scale and the climate change worry scale. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1297782. [PMID: 38106391 PMCID: PMC10722263 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1297782] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While increasing awareness of climate change is needed to address this threat to the natural environment and humanity, it may simultaneously negatively impact mental health. Previous studies suggest that climate-specific mental health phenomena, such as climate anxiety and worry, tend to be especially pronounced in youth. To properly understand and address these issues, we need valid measures that can also be used in non-Anglophone samples. Therefore, in the present paper, we aimed to validate Slovenian versions of the Climate Anxiety Scale (CAS) and the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) among Slovenian youth. Method We conducted an online survey in which 442 young individuals (18-24 years) from Slovenia filled out the two central questionnaires and additional instruments capturing other relevant constructs (e.g., general anxiety, neuroticism, and behavioral engagement). Results The confirmatory factor analyses results supported the hypothesized factorial structure of the CAS (two factors) and the CCWS (one factor). Both scales also demonstrated great internal reliability. Moreover, the analyses exploring both constructs' nomological networks showed moderate positive associations with similar measures, such as anxiety and stress (convergent validity), and very weak associations with measures they should not be particularly related to, such as narcissism (discriminant validity). Lastly, we found that the CAS and, even more so, the CCWS have unique predictive value in explaining outcomes such as perceived threat, support for climate policies, and behavioral engagement (incremental validity). Discussion Overall, Slovenian versions of the CAS and the CCWS seem to be valid, reliable, and appropriate for future studies tackling young individuals' responses to climate change. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nejc Plohl
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Mlakar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Bojan Musil
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Urška Smrke
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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Chung SJ, Jang SJ, Lee H. Eco-anxiety and environmental sustainability interest: A secondary data analysis. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2023; 32:1462-1472. [PMID: 37021349 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13150] [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: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is an increasingly important global concern, requiring urgent action. To achieve environmental sustainability, identifying the predictors influencing individuals' actions is necessary. Individuals with negative psychological responses to climate change, such as eco-anxiety, are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. However, eco-anxiety and other perceptions associated with climate change and sustainability can differ based on an individual's unique background. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potent predictors of individuals' environmental sustainability interest and examine the impact of eco-anxiety on environmental sustainability interest. Data from 459 South Korean adults (19-65 years) were included in this secondary analysis. Eco-anxiety, climate change risk perception and future event cognition were assessed by the Climate Change Anxiety Scale, the Climate Change Risk Perception Inventory and Future Event Questionnaires, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that eco-anxiety was the most potent predictor of environmental sustainability interest, followed by climate change risk perception, age 60-65 years, future event cognition and age under 30 years. Considering that eco-anxiety is the most potent predictor of environmental sustainability interest, mental health nurses should assess patients' eco-anxiety level and help them recognize and manage their anxiety levels appropriately. Age-specific approaches should be considered for interventions to enhance environmental sustainability interest. Further studies are needed to determine the cut-off anxiety level that influences the positive impact on environmental sustainability interest and to develop programmes to manage eco-anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia J Chung
- Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Joo Jang
- Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Haeyoung Lee
- Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
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Plesa P, Petranker R. Psychedelics and neonihilism: connectedness in a meaningless world. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1125780. [PMID: 37621941 PMCID: PMC10445489 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1125780] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The resurgence of psychedelic research explicitly targets treating mental health conditions largely through psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy. Current theories about mechanisms of change in psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy focus on mystical experiences as the main driver of symptom improvement. During these mystical experiences, participants report an enhanced sense of salience, connectedness, and meaning. Simultaneously, a growing psychedelic culture is also cultivating the use of psychedelics as medicine for relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression and promoting cognitive functions. We argue that an integral part of the excitement around the resurgence in psychedelics is in response to a meaning and alienation crisis that correlates with rising rates of anxiety and depression. Framing the absence of meaning as neonihilism, a contemporary correlate to the 19th-century phenomenon with unique features present in a neoliberal cultural context, we explore whether psychedelics combined with group therapy can provide answers to modern experiences of meaninglessness. Based on this exploration, we suggest concrete next steps both in the theory and practice of psychedelic psychotherapy toward what we are calling neonihilistic psychedelic group psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patric Plesa
- Department of Psychology, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, PA, United States
| | - Rotem Petranker
- Department of Psychology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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12
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Mathers-Jones J, Todd J. Ecological anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour: The role of attention. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 98:102745. [PMID: 37480627 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is a serious threat to human health and the awareness of this threat can elicit ecological anxiety (eco-anxiety), which could be considered a rational and potentially adaptive response. However, the experience of eco-anxiety does not always lead to adaptive behaviour. The present study investigated whether differential patterns of selective attention towards climate-related information, and variability in this attention, might explain this inconsistent relationship. Participants completed a dot-probe assessment of attentional bias to images of both climate change mitigation strategies and of climate change causes and consequences, and measures of eco-anxiety, climate change belief, environmental self-efficacy, and general psychological symptoms. Engagement in pro-environmental behaviours was measured using a daily behavioural diary. Eco-anxiety and attentional bias independently predicted behaviour, but did not interact. However, attentional bias variability moderated the relationship between eco-anxiety and behaviour, such that higher eco-anxiety predicted greater behavioural engagement, but only when attentional bias variability was low. This was the first known study to examine the potential moderating effect of attentional bias on the relationship between eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviours. This growing field of research can help in identifying how the rational response of eco-anxiety can be better harnessed to motivate an adaptive response to the climate crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordon Mathers-Jones
- Clinical Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jemma Todd
- Clinical Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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13
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Fagbemi F, Oke DF, Fajingbesi A. Climate-Resilient Development: An Approach to Sustainable Food Production in Sub-Saharan Africa. FUTURE FOODS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fufo.2023.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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14
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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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15
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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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16
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Raile P. Multiple psychotherapeutic approaches and perspectives on eco-anxiety. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1162616. [PMID: 37143597 PMCID: PMC10151547 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1162616] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In highly diverse psychotherapy practices, psychotherapists with their individual schemas and personalities treat patients who are just as individual, each with his/her own partially dysfunctional schema, personality, worldview, and life situation. Intuition gained through experience is often applied, and a wide range of perspectives, techniques, and treatment options appropriate to the specific situation and psychotherapist-patient relationship are required for successful treatment of eco-anxiety manifestations. Several examples will be used to present the approaches of different psychotherapeutic approaches to eco-anxiety such as analytical psychology, logotherapy and existential analysis, psychodrama, and Morita-therapy. The treatment-possibilities-expanding psychotherapy science is presented, which helps psychotherapists to look beyond their original learned approach and learn about new perspectives and treatment methods in a methodologically sound way, which they already do intuitively.
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17
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Michael GC, Dankyau M. Climate change and primary health care in Sahelian Kano, Nigeria. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2022; 14:e1-e2. [PMID: 36546499 PMCID: PMC9772740 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3745] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change (CC) is a global phenomenon that impacts several aspects of human existence. The Sustainable Development Goal 13 implores stakeholders to take action to mitigate the effects of CC. However, its impact on health, particularly primary health care, has not been thoroughly studied. Here, we share anecdotal experiences of the impact of CC on health and primary care presentations in Kano, Northwest, Nigeria. We observed consistent clinical presentations logically associated with high temperatures and excessive flooding in certain months of the year. Presentations range from skin and water-borne diseases to malnutrition and stress-related disorders. Our experience in Kano, Nigeria could be a valuable exposition of the diversity of the impact of CC on primary health care presentation in Africa, considering geographical and cultural differences. It also exposes the paucity of data regarding the impact of CC on primary care activities in Africa.Contribution: In conclusion, CC has potential impacts on primary health care and practice. The full implications of CC on this vital level of care will require future research (quantitative and qualitative studies). This will help strategic intervention planning by stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Musa Dankyau
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria
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18
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The clinical implications of climate change for mental health. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1474-1481. [DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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19
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Seritan AL, Coverdale J, Brenner AM. Climate Change and Mental Health Curricula: Addressing Barriers to Teaching. ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY : THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY 2022; 46:551-555. [PMID: 35314961 PMCID: PMC8936385 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-022-01625-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam M Brenner
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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20
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Haag P, Fantoni T, Dubal S. Fostering Engagement, Reflexivity, and 21st-Century Skills in Middle School: A Pilot Collaborative Action Research on Identity Formation with Adolescent Co-Researchers. J Intell 2022; 10:64. [PMID: 36135605 PMCID: PMC9504224 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence10030064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Identity construction during adolescence constitutes a primary psychosocial developmental task. A growing body of research has addressed the importance of school education in fostering adolescents' identity formation and the skills they need to thrive. Although several studies aimed at defining the factors contributing to a coherent, stable, and integrated identity formation, none sought to investigate this question from the adolescents' perspective. This contribution aimed to explore new ways of fostering 21st-century skills among adolescents through action research. Five adolescents aged 13 to 15 participated in the research process, creating a survey to answer a research problem mainly focused on identity construction in adolescence. A reflexive analysis of the co-research process highlighted the interest in involving adolescents as co-researchers to foster their social and emotional skills. The deployment of the resulting survey in a sample of 1210 adolescents from the general population highlighted the importance of gender diversity for constructing various dimensions of identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Haag
- École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), 75006 Paris, France
- Laboratoire BONHEURS, CY Paris Cergy University, 95011 Cergy-Pontoise, France
| | - Titouan Fantoni
- École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), 75006 Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Dubal
- Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 75013 Paris, France
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21
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Taylor N, Ma W(J, Kristopeit A, Wang SC, Zydney AL. Enhancing the performance of sterile filtration for viral vaccines and model nanoparticles using an appropriate prefilter. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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22
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Mouguiama-Daouda C, Blanchard MA, Coussement C, Heeren A. On the Measurement of Climate Change Anxiety: French Validation of the Climate Anxiety Scale. Psychol Belg 2022; 62:123-135. [PMID: 35414943 PMCID: PMC8954884 DOI: 10.5334/pb.1137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The notion of climate change anxiety has gained traction in the last years. Clayton & Karazsia (2020) recently developed the 22-item Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CAS), which assesses climate change anxiety via a four-factor structure. Yet other research has cast doubts on the very structure of the CAS by calling either for a shorter (i.e. 13 items) two-factor structure or for a shorter single-factor structure (i.e. 13 items). So far, these three different models have not yet been compared in one study. Moreover, uncertainty remains regarding the associations between the CAS and other psychological constructs, especially anxiety and depression. This project was designed to overcome these limitations. In a first preregistered study (n = 305), we translated the scale into French and tested, via confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), whether the French version would better fit with a four-, two-, or single-factor structure, as implied by previous works. We also examined how the CAS factors related to depression, anxiety, and environmental identity. In a second preregistered study, we aimed at replicating our comparison between the three CFA models in a larger sample (n = 905). Both studies pointed to a 13-item version of the scale with a two-factor structure as the best fitting model, with one factor reflecting cognitive and emotional features of climate change anxiety and the other reflecting the related functional impairments. Each factor exhibited a positive association with depression and environmental identity but not with general anxiety. We discuss how this two-factor structure impacts the conceptualization of climate change anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charlotte Coussement
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, BE
- Le Beau Vallon – Psychiatric Hospital, BE
| | - Alexandre Heeren
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, BE
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, BE
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23
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Schwartz SEO, Benoit L, Clayton S, Parnes MF, Swenson L, Lowe SR. Climate change anxiety and mental health: Environmental activism as buffer. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-14. [PMID: 35250241 PMCID: PMC8883014 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02735-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of research has documented the phenomenon of climate change anxiety (CCA), defined broadly as negative cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses associated with concerns about climate change. A recently validated scale of CCA indicated two subscales: cognitive emotional impairment and functional impairment (Clayton & Karazsia, 2020). However, there are few empirical studies on CCA to date and little evidence regarding whether CCA is associated with psychiatric symptoms, including symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and whether engaging in individual and collective action to address climate change could buffer such relationships. This mixed methods study draws on data collected from a sample of emerging adult students (ages 18-35) in the United States (N = 284) to address these gaps. Results indicated that both CCA subscales were significantly associated with GAD symptoms, while only the Functional Impairment subscale was associated with higher MDD symptoms. Moreover, engaging in collective action, but not individual action, significantly attenuated the association between CCA cognitive emotional impairment and MDD symptoms. Responses to open-ended questions asking about participants' worries and actions related to climate change indicated the severity of their worries and, for some, a perception of the insignificance of their actions relative to the enormity of climate change. These results further the field's understanding of CCA, both in general and specifically among emerging adults, and suggest the importance of creating opportunities for collective action to build sense of agency in addressing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laelia Benoit
- Child Study Center, QUALab, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
- Inserm U1018, CESP, Team DevPsy, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Maison de Solenn, Hospital Cochin AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Susan Clayton
- Department of Psychology, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH USA
| | | | - Lance Swenson
- Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA USA
| | - Sarah R. Lowe
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT USA
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24
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Eco-Anxiety and Pastoral Care: Theoretical Considerations and Practical Suggestions. RELIGIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rel13030192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The environmental crisis is producing an increasing number of both physical and psychological impacts. This article studies the challenge of eco-anxiety for pastoral care, drawing from both interdisciplinary research and ecological theology. The aim is to help both practitioners and researchers to encounter eco-anxiety more constructively. The rapidly growing research about eco-anxiety and therapy is discussed in relation to pastoral care. The various forms of eco-anxiety are briefly analyzed. The role of the caregivers is discussed by using sources that study the challenges of therapists in relation to eco-anxiety. The existential depths of eco-anxiety are probed in the light of recent research and older existentialist theory. It is pointed out that the political character of ecological issues, especially climate change issues, causes many kinds of challenges for pastoral care. As the constructive conclusion of the article, various possibilities and resources for encountering eco-anxiety in pastoral care are discussed, along with the connections with wider pastoral theology. It is argued that pastoral care providers should engage in self-reflection about their own attitudes and emotions related to ecological issues, preferably with the support of trusted peers or mentors. Various organizational developments are also needed to support caregivers. Dialectical thinking is one tool that can help to navigate the complex dynamics related to environmental responsibility, eco-emotions, and questions of hope or hopelessness.
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25
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Real-time suicide surveillance supporting policy and practice. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2022; 9:384-388. [PMID: 36618746 PMCID: PMC9806971 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide mortality rates are a strong indicator of population mental-health and can be used to determine the efficacy of prevention measures. Monitoring suicide mortality rates in real-time provides an evidence-base to inform targeted interventions in a timely manner and accelerate suicide prevention responses. This paper outlines the importance of real-time suicide surveillance in the context of policy and practice, with a particular focus on public health and humanitarian crises.
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26
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Bushman M, Godishala S, Hyzer R, Jerisha J, Jolliff A, Kaji E, Kerr B, Mathur A, Tsao O. Adolescent Health on Social Media and the Mentorship of Youth Investigators: Five Content Analysis Studies Conducted by Youth Investigators. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e29318. [PMID: 34524099 PMCID: PMC8482246 DOI: 10.2196/29318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the literature on adolescent health includes studies that incorporate youth perspectives via a participatory design, research that is designed, conducted, and presented by youth remains absent. This paper presents the work of 5 youth investigators on the intersecting topics of adolescent health and social media. Each of these youths was equipped with tools, knowledge, and mentorship for scientifically evaluating a research question. The youths developed a research question that aligned with their interests and filled a gap that they identified in the literature. The youths, whose projects are featured in this paper, designed and conducted their own research project, drafted their own manuscript, and revised and resubmitted a draft based on reviewer input. Each youth worked with a research mentor; however, the research questions, study designs, and suggestions for future research were their own.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Bushman
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Shreya Godishala
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Reese Hyzer
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Anna Jolliff
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Ethan Kaji
- Madison West High School, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bradley Kerr
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Anjali Mathur
- James Madison Memorial High School, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Owen Tsao
- Madison West High School, Madison, WI, United States
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27
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Maran DA, Begotti T. Media Exposure to Climate Change, Anxiety, and Efficacy Beliefs in a Sample of Italian University Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179358. [PMID: 34501946 PMCID: PMC8431103 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The climate crisis poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of individuals. For many, climate change knowledge is derived from indirect exposure to information transmitted through the media. Such content can elicit a variety of emotional responses, including anger, sadness, despair, fear, and guilt. Worry and anxiety are especially common responses, usually referred to as “climate anxiety”. The main objectives of this study were to analyze how exposure to climate change through the media relates to climate anxiety and individual and collective self-efficacy, and to evaluate the relationship between climate anxiety and efficacy beliefs. A total of 312 Italian university students (aged 18–26 years) participated in the research by filling out an anonymous questionnaire. Participants reported being exposed several times per week to information about climate change, especially from social media, newspapers, and television programs. Moreover, the results showed that the attention paid to information about climate change was not only positively related to climate anxiety, but also to individual and collective self-efficacy. Most notably, participants’ efficacy beliefs were found to be positively related to climate anxiety. This somewhat controversial finding stresses that, in the context of pro-environmental behavior changes, a moderate level of anxiety could engender feelings of virtue, encouraging people to rethink actions with negative ecological impacts.
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28
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Settembre-Blundo D, González-Sánchez R, Medina-Salgado S, García-Muiña FE. Flexibility and Resilience in Corporate Decision Making: A New Sustainability-Based Risk Management System in Uncertain Times. GLOBAL JOURNAL OF FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT 2021. [PMCID: PMC8329640 DOI: 10.1007/s40171-021-00277-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Risk management plays a key role in uncertain times, preventing corporations from acting rashly and incorrectly, allowing them to become flexible and resilient. A global turbulence such as the COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on individual companies and entire economic sectors, raising the question of whether a paradigm shift is necessary, in order to enable a new cycle of development that is much environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. This environmental and socio-economic context of profound uncertainty forces organizations to consider more carefully the risk factors affecting their business continuity, as well as how these factors relate to sustainability issues. However, there is a gap in knowledge about how risk management systems relate to sustainability management systems, and how both of them exert influence on business performance, especially from a theoretical point of view. The aim of this study is to address this gap, by developing a new interpretative framework for the analysis of risk management strategies in organizations. This approach has been identified in economic hermeneutics as an innovative methodological tool to improve the knowledge of risk and design the most appropriate management strategies. The paper provides two main results: the first one is the construction of a theoretical model that relates risk management to sustainability management; the second one is an operational framework of multidimensional risk assessment useful for analysis at different levels (business, competitive scenario and system). Finally, the model also makes it possible to carry out a sustainability assessment through risk evaluation in the perspective of the sustainable development goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Settembre-Blundo
- Department of Business Administration (ADO), Applied Economics II and Fundaments of Economic Analysis, Rey Juan-Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
- Gruppo Ceramiche Gresmalt, Via Mosca 4, 41049 Sassuolo, Italy
| | - Rocío González-Sánchez
- Department of Business Administration (ADO), Applied Economics II and Fundaments of Economic Analysis, Rey Juan-Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Medina-Salgado
- Department of Business Administration (ADO), Applied Economics II and Fundaments of Economic Analysis, Rey Juan-Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando E. García-Muiña
- Department of Business Administration (ADO), Applied Economics II and Fundaments of Economic Analysis, Rey Juan-Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, Spain
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29
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Geiger N, Gore A, Squire CV, Attari SZ. Investigating similarities and differences in individual reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. CLIMATIC CHANGE 2021; 167:1. [PMID: 34248235 PMCID: PMC8253462 DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
How can individuals' responses to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic be used to inform constructive responses for climate action? We present an exploratory, mixed-methods investigation (N = 1784 US adults) into similarities and differences in individuals' reactions to COVID-19 and climate change in June 2020. Participants identified many similarities between the issues, indicating that both are harmful to public health, politically polarizing, have global impacts, and have solutions. Participants also perceived many differences between the two threats: many perceived COVID-19 as medical, natural, and on a shorter timescale, while many perceived climate change as environmental, human caused, and on a longer timescale. Emotional reactions to each topic predict topic-relevant behaviors, but more strongly, and with a broader range of emotional reactions, for climate change than COVID-19. Open-ended responses show that hope was elicited for both issues in response to contemplating taking collective and individual actions, and despair was elicited for both issues in response to perceiving that others do not take the issues seriously. Finally, participants perceived that they were engaging in relatively more COVID-19 mitigation behaviors and some climate change mitigation behaviors than others (i.e., the "better-than-average" effect). Many participants believed others were relatively unconcerned about both threats because of the invisibility of the threats, ignorance, and elite cues (e.g., then-President Trump downplaying the threat). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10584-021-03143-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Geiger
- The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington, Franklin Hall, 601 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Anagha Gore
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Claire V. Squire
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Shahzeen Z. Attari
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
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