Caroline Hickman1, Elizabeth Marks2, Panu Pihkala3, Susan Clayton4, R Eric Lewandowski5, Elouise E Mayall6, Britt Wray7, Catriona Mellor8, Lise van Susteren9. 1. Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK. Electronic address: c.l.hickman@bath.ac.uk. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK. 3. Faculty of Theology and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 4. Department of Psychology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA. 5. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA. 6. School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. 7. Stanford University Center for Innovation in Global Health and Stanford and Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 8. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK. 9. Climate Psychiatry Alliance, Washington, DC, USA; Climate Psychology Alliance, Washington, DC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Climate change has important implications for the health and futures of children and young people, yet they have little power to limit its harm, making them vulnerable to climate anxiety. This is the first large-scale investigation of climate anxiety in children and young people globally and its relationship with perceived government response. METHODS: We surveyed 10 000 children and young people (aged 16-25 years) in ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA; 1000 participants per country). Invitations to complete the survey were sent via the platform Kantar between May 18 and June 7, 2021. Data were collected on participants' thoughts and feelings about climate change, and government responses to climate change. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each aspect of climate anxiety, and Pearson's correlation analysis was done to evaluate whether climate-related distress, functioning, and negative beliefs about climate change were linked to thoughts and feelings about government response. FINDINGS: Respondents across all countries were worried about climate change (59% were very or extremely worried and 84% were at least moderately worried). More than 50% reported each of the following emotions: sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty. More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet). Respondents rated governmental responses to climate change negatively and reported greater feelings of betrayal than of reassurance. Climate anxiety and distress were correlated with perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal. INTERPRETATION: Climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses are widespread in children and young people in countries across the world and impact their daily functioning. A perceived failure by governments to respond to the climate crisis is associated with increased distress. There is an urgent need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on children and young people and for governments to validate their distress by taking urgent action on climate change. FUNDING: AVAAZ.
BACKGROUND: Climate change has important implications for the health and futures of children and young people, yet they have little power to limit its harm, making them vulnerable to climate anxiety. This is the first large-scale investigation of climate anxiety in children and young people globally and its relationship with perceived government response. METHODS: We surveyed 10 000 children and young people (aged 16-25 years) in ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA; 1000 participants per country). Invitations to complete the survey were sent via the platform Kantar between May 18 and June 7, 2021. Data were collected on participants' thoughts and feelings about climate change, and government responses to climate change. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each aspect of climate anxiety, and Pearson's correlation analysis was done to evaluate whether climate-related distress, functioning, and negative beliefs about climate change were linked to thoughts and feelings about government response. FINDINGS: Respondents across all countries were worried about climate change (59% were very or extremely worried and 84% were at least moderately worried). More than 50% reported each of the following emotions: sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty. More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet). Respondents rated governmental responses to climate change negatively and reported greater feelings of betrayal than of reassurance. Climate anxiety and distress were correlated with perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal. INTERPRETATION: Climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses are widespread in children and young people in countries across the world and impact their daily functioning. A perceived failure by governments to respond to the climate crisis is associated with increased distress. There is an urgent need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on children and young people and for governments to validate their distress by taking urgent action on climate change. FUNDING: AVAAZ.
Authors: Michael Eichinger; Myriam Bechtoldt; Inga Thao My Bui; Julius Grund; Jan Keller; Ashley G Lau; Shuyan Liu; Michael Neuber; Felix Peter; Carina Pohle; Gerhard Reese; Fabian Schäfer; Stephan Heinzel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-30 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Csilla Ágoston; Benedek Csaba; Bence Nagy; Zoltán Kőváry; Andrea Dúll; József Rácz; Zsolt Demetrovics Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-21 Impact factor: 3.390