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Determining The Climate Change Anxiety Levels of University Students

Year 2023, Issue: 51, 159 - 167, 31.08.2023
https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1282642

Abstract

The Paris Agreement goes into great detail on the topic of climate change, which has been called out as one of the major issues affecting the planet. In this study, it is aimed to determine the climate change anxiety levels of university students who are expected to have a high awareness of climate change and have the potential to contribute positively to social governance, and to present solutions to minimize the negative consequences of climate change in line with the results obtained. In the study; 96% of the participants were between the ages of 18-23, between age and anxiety score (r=0.080; p=0.041), between age and helplessness score (r=0.087; p=0.026), and between age and climate change anxiety scale total score. It was determined that there was a statistically significant positive and very weak relationship between the two (r=0.086; p=0.029). A statistically significant difference was found between the median scores of anxiety and helplessness scores according to gender and 59.9% of the participants were women (p<0.001). Considering the significance level of the relationship between climate change anxiety levels and age, it can be thought that young people's anxiety about this issue may be a motivating factor in combating the negative consequences of climate change and ensuring social cohesion.

References

  • Aitken, C., Chapman, R., & McClure, J. (2011). Climate change, powerlessness and the commons dilemma: assessing New Zealanders’ preparedness to act. Global Environmental Change, 21(2), 752-760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.002
  • Anderson, B. (2010). Preemption, precaution, preparedness: Anticipatory action and future geographies. Progress in Human Geography, 34(6), 777-798. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132510362600
  • Ben-Amar, W., & McIlkenny, P. (2015). Board effectiveness and the voluntary disclosure of climate change information. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(8), 704–719. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1840
  • Bord, R. J., O’Connor, R. E., & Fisher, A. (2000). In what sense does the public need to understand global climate change? Public Understanding of Science, 9(3), 205. https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-6625/9/3/301
  • Bravo, F., & Reguera-Alvarado, N. (2018). Do independent director’s characteristics influence financial reporting quality? Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting, 47(1), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/02102412.2017.1362200
  • Bush, S. S., & Clayton, A. (2022). Facing change: Gender and climate change attitudes worldwide. American Political Science Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055422000752
  • Chiw, A. & Ling, H. S. (2019). Young people of Australia and climate change: Perceptions and concerns. Millennium Kids, 1–31. Available from: https://www.millenniumkids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Young-People-and-Climate-Change.pdf
  • Choon, S. W., Ong, H. B., & Tan, S. H. (2019). Does risk perception limit the climate change mitigation behaviors? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 21(4), 1891–1917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0108-0
  • Christensen, J., & Serrano Velarde, K. (2019). The role of advisory bodies in the emergence of cross-cutting policy issues: comparing innovation policy in Norway and Germany. European Politics and Society, 20(1), 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/23745118.2018.1515864
  • Clayton, S. (2021). Climate change and mental health. Current Environmental Health Reports, 8(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00303-3
  • Clayton, S., & Karazsia, B. T. (2020). Development and validation of a measure of climate change anxiety. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 69, 101434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101434
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research : planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. 650.
  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2002). Research methods in education. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203224342
  • Ergun, S. J., & Rivas, M. F. (2019). The effect of social roles, religiosity, and values on climate change concern: An empirical analysis for Turkey. Sustainable Development, 27(4), 758–769. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1939
  • Fairbrother, M. (2017). Environmental attitudes and the politics of distrust. Sociology Compass, 11(5), e12482. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12482
  • Gezer, M., & İlhan, M. (2021). İklim değişikliği endişesi ölçeği: Türkçeye uyarlama çalışması. Ege Coğrafya Dergisi, 30(1), 195–204. https://doi.org/10.51800/ecd.932817
  • Hamel, L., Lopes, L., Munana, C., & Brodie, M. (2019). The kaiser family foundation/washington post climate change survey. Available from: https://www.kff.org/other/report/the-kaiser-family-foundation-washington-post-climate-change-survey/
  • Holmes, D. C. (2020). Introduction to the research handbook on communicating climate change. In Research Handbook on Communicating Climate Change (pp. 1-20). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789900408.00006
  • Howe, P. D., Mildenberger, M., Marlon, J. R., & Leiserowitz, A. (2015). Geographic variation in opinions on climate change at state and local scales in the USA. Nature Climate Change, 5(6), 596–603. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2583
  • Jakučionytė-Skodienė, M., & Liobikienė, G. (2022). The changes in climate change concern, responsibility assumption and ımpact on climate-friendly behaviour in EU from the Paris agreement until 2019. Environmental Management, 69(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01574-8
  • Karasar, N. (2022). Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemi: Kavramlar İlkeler Teknikler. Nobel Akademi.
  • Lawrance, E. L., Jennings, N., Kioupi, V., Thompson, R., Diffey, J., & Vercammen, A. (2022). Psychological responses, mental health, and sense of agency for the dual challenges of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic in young people in the UK: an online survey study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(9), e726–e738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00172-3
  • Levy, B. S., & Patz, J. A. (2015). Climate change, human rights, and social justice. Annals of Global Health, 81(3), 310–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.Aogh.2015.08.008
  • Liu, X., & Mu, R. (2016). Public environmental concern in China: Determinants and variations. Global Environmental Change, 37, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.01.008
  • Maran, D. A., & Begotti, T. (2021). Media exposure to climate change, anxiety, and efficacy beliefs in a sample of Italian university students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 9358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ıjerph18179358
  • Nielsen, S., & Huse, M. (2010). Women directors’ contribution to board decision-making and strategic involvement: The role of equality perception. European Management Review, 7(1), 16–29. https://doi.org/10.1057/emr.2009.27
  • Schwerhoff, G., & Konte, M. (2020). Gender and Climate change: towards comprehensive policy options. In: Konte M, Tirivayi N (eds) Women and Sustainable Human Development: Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave, London, 51–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14935-2_4
  • Sinatra, G. M., Kardash, C. A. M., Taasoobshirazi, G., & Lombardi, D. (2012). Promoting attitude change and expressed willingness to take action toward climate change in college students. Instructional Science, 40 (1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-011-9166-5
  • Stewart, A. E. (2021). Psychometric properties of the climate change worry scale. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (2), 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/ıjerph18020494
  • van Nieuwenhuizen, A., Hudson, K., Chen, X., & Hwong, A. R. (2021). The effects of climate change on child and adolescent mental health: Clinical considerations. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23, 88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01296-y
  • World Health Organization. (2014). Gender, climate change and health. Available from: www.who.int
  • Yilmaz, V., & Can, Y. (2020). Impact of knowledge, concern and awareness about global warming and global climatic change on environmental behavior. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 22(7), 6245–6260. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10668-019-00475-5

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin İklim Değişikliği Endişe Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Year 2023, Issue: 51, 159 - 167, 31.08.2023
https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1282642

Abstract

İklim değişikliğinin, dünyayı tehdit eden önemli sorunlardan biri haline geldiği ve bu konuya Paris Anlaşması'nda geniş bir şekilde yer verildiği belirtilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, iklim değişikliği konusunda farkındalık algısının yüksek olması beklenen ve toplumsal yönetişime pozitif katkı sunma potansiyeli bulunan üniversite öğrencilerinin iklim değişikliği endişe düzeylerinin belirlenmesi ve elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda iklim değişikliğinin olumsuz sonuçlarını en aza indirmeye yönelik çözüm önerilerinin sunulması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada; katılımcıların %96’sının 18-23 yaş aralığında olduğu, yaş ile kaygı puanı arasında (r=0,080; p=0,041), yaş ile çaresizlik puanı arasında (r=0,087; p=0,026) ve yaş ile iklim değişikliği endişe ölçeği toplam puanı arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı pozitif yönlü zayıf bir ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır (r=0,086; p=0,029). Katılımcıların %59,9’unu kadınlar oluşturmakta ve cinsiyete göre kaygı, çaresizlik puanı ortanca değerleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur (p<0,001). İklim değişikliği endişe düzeylerinin yaş ile ilişkisinin anlamlılık düzeyi göz önüne alındığında, genç kişilerin bu konuya yönelik kaygı duymalarının, iklim değişikliğinin olumsuz sonuçlarıyla mücadele etmede ve toplumsal uyumun sağlanmasında motive edici bir faktör olabileceği düşünülebilir.

References

  • Aitken, C., Chapman, R., & McClure, J. (2011). Climate change, powerlessness and the commons dilemma: assessing New Zealanders’ preparedness to act. Global Environmental Change, 21(2), 752-760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.002
  • Anderson, B. (2010). Preemption, precaution, preparedness: Anticipatory action and future geographies. Progress in Human Geography, 34(6), 777-798. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132510362600
  • Ben-Amar, W., & McIlkenny, P. (2015). Board effectiveness and the voluntary disclosure of climate change information. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(8), 704–719. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1840
  • Bord, R. J., O’Connor, R. E., & Fisher, A. (2000). In what sense does the public need to understand global climate change? Public Understanding of Science, 9(3), 205. https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-6625/9/3/301
  • Bravo, F., & Reguera-Alvarado, N. (2018). Do independent director’s characteristics influence financial reporting quality? Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting, 47(1), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/02102412.2017.1362200
  • Bush, S. S., & Clayton, A. (2022). Facing change: Gender and climate change attitudes worldwide. American Political Science Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055422000752
  • Chiw, A. & Ling, H. S. (2019). Young people of Australia and climate change: Perceptions and concerns. Millennium Kids, 1–31. Available from: https://www.millenniumkids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Young-People-and-Climate-Change.pdf
  • Choon, S. W., Ong, H. B., & Tan, S. H. (2019). Does risk perception limit the climate change mitigation behaviors? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 21(4), 1891–1917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0108-0
  • Christensen, J., & Serrano Velarde, K. (2019). The role of advisory bodies in the emergence of cross-cutting policy issues: comparing innovation policy in Norway and Germany. European Politics and Society, 20(1), 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/23745118.2018.1515864
  • Clayton, S. (2021). Climate change and mental health. Current Environmental Health Reports, 8(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00303-3
  • Clayton, S., & Karazsia, B. T. (2020). Development and validation of a measure of climate change anxiety. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 69, 101434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101434
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research : planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. 650.
  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2002). Research methods in education. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203224342
  • Ergun, S. J., & Rivas, M. F. (2019). The effect of social roles, religiosity, and values on climate change concern: An empirical analysis for Turkey. Sustainable Development, 27(4), 758–769. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.1939
  • Fairbrother, M. (2017). Environmental attitudes and the politics of distrust. Sociology Compass, 11(5), e12482. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12482
  • Gezer, M., & İlhan, M. (2021). İklim değişikliği endişesi ölçeği: Türkçeye uyarlama çalışması. Ege Coğrafya Dergisi, 30(1), 195–204. https://doi.org/10.51800/ecd.932817
  • Hamel, L., Lopes, L., Munana, C., & Brodie, M. (2019). The kaiser family foundation/washington post climate change survey. Available from: https://www.kff.org/other/report/the-kaiser-family-foundation-washington-post-climate-change-survey/
  • Holmes, D. C. (2020). Introduction to the research handbook on communicating climate change. In Research Handbook on Communicating Climate Change (pp. 1-20). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789900408.00006
  • Howe, P. D., Mildenberger, M., Marlon, J. R., & Leiserowitz, A. (2015). Geographic variation in opinions on climate change at state and local scales in the USA. Nature Climate Change, 5(6), 596–603. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2583
  • Jakučionytė-Skodienė, M., & Liobikienė, G. (2022). The changes in climate change concern, responsibility assumption and ımpact on climate-friendly behaviour in EU from the Paris agreement until 2019. Environmental Management, 69(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01574-8
  • Karasar, N. (2022). Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemi: Kavramlar İlkeler Teknikler. Nobel Akademi.
  • Lawrance, E. L., Jennings, N., Kioupi, V., Thompson, R., Diffey, J., & Vercammen, A. (2022). Psychological responses, mental health, and sense of agency for the dual challenges of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic in young people in the UK: an online survey study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(9), e726–e738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00172-3
  • Levy, B. S., & Patz, J. A. (2015). Climate change, human rights, and social justice. Annals of Global Health, 81(3), 310–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.Aogh.2015.08.008
  • Liu, X., & Mu, R. (2016). Public environmental concern in China: Determinants and variations. Global Environmental Change, 37, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.01.008
  • Maran, D. A., & Begotti, T. (2021). Media exposure to climate change, anxiety, and efficacy beliefs in a sample of Italian university students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 9358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ıjerph18179358
  • Nielsen, S., & Huse, M. (2010). Women directors’ contribution to board decision-making and strategic involvement: The role of equality perception. European Management Review, 7(1), 16–29. https://doi.org/10.1057/emr.2009.27
  • Schwerhoff, G., & Konte, M. (2020). Gender and Climate change: towards comprehensive policy options. In: Konte M, Tirivayi N (eds) Women and Sustainable Human Development: Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave, London, 51–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14935-2_4
  • Sinatra, G. M., Kardash, C. A. M., Taasoobshirazi, G., & Lombardi, D. (2012). Promoting attitude change and expressed willingness to take action toward climate change in college students. Instructional Science, 40 (1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-011-9166-5
  • Stewart, A. E. (2021). Psychometric properties of the climate change worry scale. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (2), 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/ıjerph18020494
  • van Nieuwenhuizen, A., Hudson, K., Chen, X., & Hwong, A. R. (2021). The effects of climate change on child and adolescent mental health: Clinical considerations. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23, 88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01296-y
  • World Health Organization. (2014). Gender, climate change and health. Available from: www.who.int
  • Yilmaz, V., & Can, Y. (2020). Impact of knowledge, concern and awareness about global warming and global climatic change on environmental behavior. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 22(7), 6245–6260. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10668-019-00475-5
There are 32 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Policy and Administration (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Galip Usta 0000-0001-6279-1694

Publication Date August 31, 2023
Submission Date April 13, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Issue: 51

Cite

APA Usta, G. (2023). Üniversite Öğrencilerinin İklim Değişikliği Endişe Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi(51), 159-167. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1282642

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