Do concerns about climate change lead to distress?

Searle, Kristina; Gow, Kathryn

doi:10.1108/17568691011089891

Cited by 223 publications

(225 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Even though there are some prior studies supporting the link between worry about global environmental problems and low well-being, they are all cross-sectional [61][62][63]. An alternative explanation could be that worry about climate change to some extent is a sub-type of a general tendency to experience anxious and depressive feelings in everyday life, as sometimes seems to be the case with nuclear worry (see [64,65]).…”

Section: Problem-focused Copingmentioning

confidence: 96%

Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement

2013

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Abstract:The objective of this questionnaire study was to investigate how Swedish adolescents (n = 321) cope with climate change and how different coping strategies are associated with environmental efficacy, pro-environmental behavior, and subjective well-being. The results were compared to an earlier study on 12-year-olds, and the same coping strategies, problem-focused coping, de-emphasizing the seriousness of the threat, and meaning-focused coping, were identified. As in the study on children, problem-focused and meaning-focused coping were positively related to felt efficacy and environmental behavior, while de-emphasizing the threat was negatively related to these measures. As expected, the more problem-focused coping the adolescents used, the more likely it was that they experienced negative affect in everyday life. This association was explained by the tendency for highly problem-focused adolescents to worry more about climate change. In contrast, meaning-focused coping was positively related to both well-being and optimism. When controlling for well-known predictors such as values and gender, meaning-focused and problem-focused coping were independent positive predictors of environmental efficacy and pro-environmental behavior, while de-emphasizing the threat was a negative predictor of pro-environmental behavior. The results are discussed in relation to coping theories and earlier studies on coping with climate change.

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Section: Problem-focused Copingmentioning

confidence: 96%

Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement

2013

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“…Climate-related impacts also cause emotional and psychological distress to many people, especially to those who are vulnerable [19,20]. By the same token, studies have reported that people are concerned about the impacts of climate change [21]. However, studies also show that individuals distinguish between the effects of climate change on their personal lives and on society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness of and Attitudes towards Heat Waves within the Context of Climate Change among a Cohort of Residents in Adelaide, Australia

Akompab

Williams

et al. 2012

IJERPH

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Heat waves are a public health concern in Australia and unprecedented heat waves have been recorded in Adelaide over recent years. The aim of this study was to examine the perception and attitudes towards heat waves in the context of climate change among a group of residents in Adelaide, an Australian city with a temperate climate. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer of 2012 among a sample of 267 residents. The results of the survey found that television (89.9%), radio (71.2%), newspapers (45.3%) were the main sources from which respondents received information about heat waves. The majority of the respondents (73.0%) followed news about heat waves very or somewhat closely. About 26.6% of the respondents were extremely or very concerned about the effects of heat waves on them personally. The main issues that were of personal concern for respondents during a heat wave were their personal comfort (60.7%), their garden (48.7%), and sleeping well (47.6%). Overall, respondents were more concerned about the impacts of heat waves to the society than on themselves. There was a significant association between gender (χ² = 21.2, df = 3, p = 0.000), gross annual household income (p = 0.03) and concern for the societal effects of heat waves. Less than half (43.2%) of the respondents believed that heat waves will extremely or very likely increase in Adelaide according to climate projections. Nearly half (49.3%) believed that the effects of heat waves were already being felt in Adelaide. These findings may inform the reframing and communication strategies for heat waves in Adelaide in the context of climate change.

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“…Two other studies considered the influence of pre‐existing mental illness. People with high levels of anxiety were susceptible to distress resulting from concerns about climate change (Searle and Gow, ). In contrast, pre‐existing mental health issues were not significantly associated with post‐traumatic distress disorder among children following a cyclone disaster (McDermott et al ., ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Socio‐Economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

Smith

Keys

Lieske

et al. 2015

Geographical Research

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This article systematically reviews and synthesises academic, peer-reviewed literature to assess the state of knowledge concerning socio-economic vulnerability to climate change impacts and environmental hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It focuses upon empirical research that identifies socioeconomic factors associated with vulnerable subpopulations. Using systematic review methods, 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. These articles are analysed according to their general characteristics, the methods used, and the factors reported to be associated with socio-economic vulnerability. This body of evidence reveals that (1) the majority of the knowledge about socio-economic vulnerability in New South Wales and Queensland has only recently emerged; (2) more knowledge has been published about Queensland; and (3) extreme temperature is the most researched environmental hazard. Despite increased research activity over time, the number of factors repeatedly demonstrated to influence socio-economic vulnerability is small. Age, gender, place of residence, and preexisting illness were the most commonly reported factors, although the influence of these factors upon socio-economic vulnerability is complex. There is scope to extend the empirical research base across a broader range of climate-related hazards and to better link findings from the domains of climate change vulnerability and population health.

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Do concerns about climate change lead to distress?

Cited by 223 publications

References 32 publications

Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement

Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement

Awareness of and Attitudes towards Heat Waves within the Context of Climate Change among a Cohort of Residents in Adelaide, Australia

Assessing Socio‐Economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

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