Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Lancet Planet Health. 2021 Dec;5(12):e863-e873. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3.
Climate change has important implications for the health and futures of children and young people, yet they have little power to limit its harm, making them vulnerable to climate anxiety. This is the first large-scale investigation of climate anxiety in children and young people globally and its relationship with perceived government response.
We surveyed 10 000 children and young people (aged 16-25 years) in ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA; 1000 participants per country). Invitations to complete the survey were sent via the platform Kantar between May 18 and June 7, 2021. Data were collected on participants' thoughts and feelings about climate change, and government responses to climate change. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each aspect of climate anxiety, and Pearson's correlation analysis was done to evaluate whether climate-related distress, functioning, and negative beliefs about climate change were linked to thoughts and feelings about government response.
Respondents across all countries were worried about climate change (59% were very or extremely worried and 84% were at least moderately worried). More than 50% reported each of the following emotions: sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty. More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet). Respondents rated governmental responses to climate change negatively and reported greater feelings of betrayal than of reassurance. Climate anxiety and distress were correlated with perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal.
Climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses are widespread in children and young people in countries across the world and impact their daily functioning. A perceived failure by governments to respond to the climate crisis is associated with increased distress. There is an urgent need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on children and young people and for governments to validate their distress by taking urgent action on climate change.
AVAAZ.
气候变化对儿童和青少年的健康和未来有着重要的影响，但他们几乎没有能力来限制其危害，这使他们容易受到气候焦虑的影响。这是首次对全球范围内儿童和青少年的气候焦虑及其与感知到的政府应对措施的关系进行的大规模调查。
我们在十个国家（澳大利亚、巴西、芬兰、法国、印度、尼日利亚、菲律宾、葡萄牙、英国和美国）对 10000 名儿童和青少年（年龄在 16-25 岁之间）进行了调查（每个国家 1000 名参与者）。2021 年 5 月 18 日至 6 月 7 日，通过 Kantar 平台发送了完成调查的邀请。收集了参与者对气候变化的想法和感受，以及对气候变化的政府应对措施的看法。对气候焦虑的各个方面进行了描述性统计，并用 Pearson 相关分析评估了与气候变化有关的痛苦、功能障碍和对气候变化的负面信念是否与对政府应对措施的想法和感受有关。
所有国家的受访者都对气候变化感到担忧（59%的人非常或极其担忧，84%的人至少中度担忧）。超过 50%的受访者报告了以下每一种情绪：悲伤、焦虑、愤怒、无力、无助和内疚。超过 45%的受访者表示，他们对气候变化的感受对日常生活和功能产生了负面影响，许多人对气候变化有很多负面想法（例如，75%的人认为未来令人恐惧，83%的人认为人们未能照顾好地球）。受访者对政府应对气候变化的措施评价较低，并报告说感到更多的是被背叛而不是被安抚。气候焦虑和困扰与感知到的政府应对措施不足以及相关的被背叛感有关。
在世界各地的国家中，儿童和青少年普遍存在气候焦虑和对政府应对措施的不满，这影响了他们的日常生活功能。政府未能应对气候危机被认为是导致焦虑加剧的原因之一。迫切需要进一步研究气候变化对儿童和青少年的情绪影响，以及政府通过对气候变化采取紧急行动来验证他们的痛苦。
AVAAZ。
