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International Journal of
Population Studies Children coping with climate change anxiety

meaning-focused coping, rather than avoidant coping 2021). Nevertheless, parents and guardians who provide
strategies (Ojala, 2012). Similarly, efficacy beliefs of advice and support to children will find this a daunting
Italian university students have also been shown as task due to the parent’s anxiety concerning climate change
positively associated with climate change anxiety (Maran or the ill-equipped scientific information, they can convey
& Begotti, 2021). Meaning-focused coping is a critical to their minors in a child-appropriate manner (Gaziulusoy,
enabling strategy to facilitate problem-focused coping 2020). It has been recognized that providing guardians with
whilst protecting against the overwhelming stress induced educational resources that can promote emotional well-being
in the process of engaging in climate change activism is a monumental step toward fostering effective discussion
(Ojala & Bengtsson, 2019). Although the application of with children, which aims to snowball into their proactive
these theoretical coping strategies on children has been engagement in climate change action (Baker et al., 2021).
corroborated by studies conducted in different countries, Reducing the impact of climate change and assisting
it is yet to be determined whether the efficacy of these children to be part of this process requires a holistic
strategies may vary among children nurtured in different approach and collective action of many parties (Lawson
cultures. According to Hickman (2020), societal trust et al., 2019). Therefore, the onus of empowering children
is lacking in many children, highlighting the need to in responding to climate change should not only be left
address intergenerational misunderstanding. The platform on parents; instead, educational systems such as schools
given to Greta Thunberg by the United Nations’ Climate and colleges, governments, researchers, clinicians, and
Action Summit in 2019 is a good example of the efforts practitioners who work with families as well as community
made to bridge the misunderstanding gap. For children to activists must be included in the education process. Majeed
feel hopeful and empowered, bequeathing them the floor & Lee (2017, p. 95) recommended that clinicians treating
to express for themselves in big events, for instance, is children with mental illness should familiarize themselves
symbolic of enfranchising them through representation in with methods that have the potential to relieve their mental
the media and policy creation, consistent with a sentiment health problems related to climate change. This tactic
voiced by the UK adolescents in a qualitative research entails utilizing an evidence-based approach concerning
(Thompson et al., 2022). climate change anxiety as psychological treatment for
Jalin et al. (2022) reported that individuals with limited children who present with climate change anxiety, which
access to psychological resources for stress coping are must be treated differently than other anxiety disorders
particularly vulnerable to climate change anxiety and such as generalized anxiety disorder.
thus recommended psychotherapy complemented with 4. Possible interventions to support
stress management as a means to improve climate change
anxiety. As Clayton (2020) observes, emotional coping children with climate change anxiety
strategies, such as denying or downplaying the threat, are Potential interventions to support children with climate
not appropriate for the pervasive threat posed by climate change anxiety include but are not limited to, providing
change. However, for those experiencing significant impact safe spaces (online or physical), resources and tools for
from climate change anxiety, stabilizing unregulated children to share their fears or concerns about climate
emotion and stress through cognitive exercises is likely to change, acknowledging the existence of these feelings, and
be a necessary preliminary to engagement in meaning- and providing assistance to address the silence, fear, and shame
problem-focused coping. — the feelings after they are shunned by their parents
(Burke et al., 2018). In addition, ample support should
3. When to talk to children about climate be given parents who are not knowledgeable enough to
change discuss the topic of climate change with their children.
At present, there is no consensus on the appropriate time Lewandowsky et al. (2013) argued for bridging the gap
to discuss climate change with children. The discussion in levels of knowledge between expert and the public, so
with them may start with helping them understand that that parents, guardians, schools, and communities, which
extreme worry, fear, and distress are common reactions are the key members of the public, have access to expert
in individuals who are concerned about climate change knowledge and resources tailored to their needs to support
(Marks et al., 2021). It is important to sensitively engage in their children in understanding climate change.
the discussion about climate change and its impact, with Compared with simple talks about climate change,
the hope that the children are empowered to adaptively creating environments where parents can spend time
overcome and confront the crises awaiting them, as opposed with their children and children can appreciate the beauty
to feeling helpless and powerless (Budziszewska & Jonsson, of nature has been proven to be beneficial (Burke et al.,

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 73 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0850