Page 149 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Parenting in a changing climate

relationship between climate change and mental health, perceived impact on fulfilling life roles, such as attending
and as such, there is a necessity for evidence on measures to work and family responsibilities, clusters around a
to mitigate the impact (Wu et al., 2020). Climate change separate factor termed functional impairment. Those
anxiety is a prominent term associated with the effect of scoring highly on validated scales report specific anxieties
the climate crisis on mental health and mental distress. It around climate change as causing a significant impact on
is considered a heightened emotional or mental distress in mental health (Coffey et al., 2021). Climate change anxiety
response to the extreme changes in the climate (Alliance, is correlated with depression (Clayton & Karazsia, 2020;
2020). However, worrying about the climate crisis is a Larionow et al., 2022) and generalized anxiety (Clayton
rational reaction to the potential threat to life and a fear for & Karazsia, 2020), though further research is required to
the future (Wray, 2023), with parenthood found to cause establish cause-effect relations (Heeren et al., 2023) and
an increase in climate change worries when compared to cross-cultural validity (Larionow et al., 2022).
individuals without parental responsibilities (Ekholm, Research indicates several variables associated with
2020). climate change anxiety, indicating that some people are
Parental climate anxiety has also been reported by more likely to be affected (Clayton, 2020; Hickman, 2020;
Gaziulusoy (2020), who reported that parents not only Jackson et al., 2023; Lee et al., 2020; Ojala, 2012; van
expressed their worries, sadness, and hopelessness for their Nieuwenhuizen et al., 2021; Vergunst & Berry, 2022; Wu
children but also their perceived inadequacy to sufficiently et al., 2023). An individual’s personality, age, and where
prepare them for the future. This presents a significant they live can influence the degree to which they experience
challenge for parents, particularly as Corner et al. (2015) climate change anxiety (Clayton, 2020). Young adults (Wu
identify them as among the trusted messengers of climate et al., 2020), farming communities, and those living in
change, highlighting their potential to positively influence areas directly impacted by climate change-induced weather
the actions and outlook of their children. This role is events are particularly susceptible (Cunsolo et al., 2020).
concurred by Madden et al. (2023), while Léger-Goodes Those with knowledge about climate change (Asgarizadeh
et al. (2023) argue that parents can also influence the extent et al., 2023), engaging in eco-behaviors (Lukacs et al.,
to which their children experience climate change anxiety. 2023), studying environmental topics (Daeninck et al.,
That said, it has also been found that parents may not be 2023), and those who feel an affinity with nature (Coffey
aware of their children’s worries about climate change. et al., 2021) are also more likely to experience climate
Indeed, during interviews with parent-child dyads, anxiety. Despite these associations, there is a limited
Léger-Goodes et al. (2023) found that while some parents understanding of how conversations between children
reported their children were unconcerned about climate and their parents about climate change relate to parental
change, the children themselves divulged their worry. This climate change anxiety. Therefore, this study aims to
indicates that parents may not only need to manage their explore the relationship between United Kingdom (UK)
own anxieties toward climate change but also navigate parents’/carers’ engagement with their children aged 5 –
preparing their child/children for an uncertain future 11 years regarding climate change and (i) climate change
while anticipating and indeed managing potential climate anxiety, (ii) eco-behaviors, or (iii) parental demographics.
anxiety. 2. Methods
Growing symptoms related to climate change anxiety
have led organizations worldwide to raise this psychological 2.1. Study design
phenomenon as in need of action. Current evidence The study adopted a cross-sectional approach for
highlights that the issue of climate change exacerbates data collection from parents with at least one child
mental distress, particularly among young people, even for aged 5 – 11 years (UK primary school age) using an
individuals who are not directly affected (Lawrance et al., online questionnaire (Appendix A1). The anonymous
2021). This phenomenon is recognized as a global mental questionnaire incorporated the Climate Change Anxiety
health risk, with its incidence increasing (Swim et al., Scale (Clayton & Karazsia, 2020) to explore differences
2022). Climate change anxiety has been operationalized in climate change anxiety and eco-behaviors across
as a multi-factor construct, measurable by self-report, and demographic characteristics. The Climate Change
differentiated from general anxiety (Clayton & Karazsia, Anxiety Scale comprises 22 items. Items 1 – 13 evaluate
2020). The emotional reaction to climate change in this climate change anxiety, consisting of cognitive-emotional
formulation is seen to cluster around a factor termed impairment (Items 1 – 8, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79)
cognitive-emotional impairment, which captures the self- and functional impairment (Items 9 – 13, Cronbach’s
perceived impact on affective and cognitive resources. Self- alpha = 0.78). Items 14 – 16 evaluate eco-behavior,

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3172