Page 152 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Parenting in a changing climate

Table 2. (Continued)
Characteristics Climate change Cognitive and Functional Experience of Behavioral
anxiety scale emotional impairment climate change engagement
impairment
n (%) SD M H, U † p H, U † p H, U † p H, U † p H, U † p
Environmental or
pro-environmental action
No 10 (6.5) 0.426 1.05 17.307 <0.001*** 7.122 0.028* 6.756 0.034* 10.296 0.006** 20.074 <0.001***
Unsure 18 (11.8)
Yes 125 (81.7)
Child/children worries about
climate change
No 74 (48.4) 0.448 0.27 28.171 <0.001*** 10.662 0.005** 10.548 0.005* 9.985 0.007** 21.182 <0.001***
Unsure 51 (33.3)
Yes 28 (18.3)
Notes: *indicates p<0.05. **indicates p<0.01. ***indicates p<0.001; U - This indicates a Mann Whitney U was performed; H indicates a Kruskal–Wallis
†
test was performed.
Abbreviation: Standard deviation.
indicates that parents whose child/children talked to them (H[2] = 10.662; p = 0.005) with a small effect size (0.05),
about climate change are at higher risk of climate change “functional impairment” (H[2] = 10.548; p = 0.005) with
anxiety. a small effect size (0.04), “experience of climate change”
(H[2]= 9.985; p = 0.007) with a small effect size (0.4), and
3.3. Eco-friendly and pro-environmentally friendly “behavioral engagement” (H[2] = 21.182; p < 0.001) with a
behavior moderate effect size (0.12). This indicates that parents who
There was a significant difference in “climate change report that their child/children worry about climate are
anxiety” and participants who reported that they take more likely to experience higher levels of climate change
“environmentally friendly or pro-environmental action” anxiety.
(H[2] = 17.307; p < 0.001) with a moderate effect size
(0.09). Participants who reported “yes” ranked higher 4. Discussion
(MR = 82.53) than those who were “unsure” (MR = 68.42) These findings indicate that although there was no overall
or who reported “no” (MR = 23.32). There was also a difference in climate change anxiety for parents of different
significant difference in all four categories: “cognitive ages, younger parents were more likely to rank higher in
and emotional impairment” (H[2] = 7.122; p = 0.028) the category of “cognitive and emotional impairment.”
with a small effect size (0.02), “functional impairment” This finding corroborates the original scale development
(H[2] = 6.756, p = 0.034) with a small effect size (0.04), study by Clayton & Karazsia (2020) and a study from
“experience of climate change” (H[2] = 10.296; p = 0.006) Poland by Larionow et al. (2022). The greater impact on
with a small effect size (0.4), and “behavioral engagement” younger adults may be partly attributable to the increasing
(H[2] = 21.182; p < 0.001) with a moderate effect size prevalence of climate change discussions during a critical
(0.11). This indicates that those who engage in eco-friendly period of their identity development (Swim et al., 2022).
and pro-environmentally friendly behavior are more likely Psychological practitioners and climate change activists
to experience higher levels of climate change anxiety. have commented that climate change anxiety is not
pathological but an understandable reaction to real
3.4. Child/children worries about climate change existential threats (Wray, 2023). Weintrobe (2018) posits
There was a significant difference in “climate change that confronting the painful realization of the impact of
anxiety” and participants who reported that their “child/ climate change on our species’ existence is a necessary
children worries about climate change” (H[2] = 28.171; first step to taking action to address the threat. Therefore,
p < 0.001) with a moderate effect size (0.16). Participants acute cognitive and emotional disturbance in the younger
who reported “yes” ranked higher (MR = 98.71) than those generational cohorts may signal a turning point toward a
who were “unsure” (MR = 93.43) or who reported “no” more responsible approach to sustainable living. However,
(MR = 57.46). There was also a significant difference in further research is required to understand the specific
all four categories: “cognitive and emotional impairment” impact on mental health for different age groups.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3172