Lenhard Fabian, Fernández de la Cruz Lorena, Wahlund Tove, Andersson Erik, Åhlén Johan, Fuso Nerini Francesco, Akay Haluk, Mataix-Cols David
Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Dec 9;12(1):731. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02244-0.
A large proportion of individuals experience functional impairment in everyday life due to climate worry. However, the current understanding of this functional impairment is limited by the use of suboptimal measures. Furthermore, it is not known whether functional impairment due to climate worry affects pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) or whether individuals who experience such impairment perceive a need for support. The aims of the current study were (1) to extend previous research using an established measure of functional impairment (the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, WSAS), (2) to explore the associations between climate worry, functional impairment, and PEBs, and (3) to describe the characteristics and the perceived need for support of individuals with functional impairment due to climate worry.
A cross-sectional survey targeting adult individuals who experience climate worry. Participants were recruited nationally in Sweden between September and October 2022. The survey included measures of climate worry severity, climate worry frequency, functional impairment, PEBs, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and questions related to perceived need for support.
A total of 1221 adults (75% women, mean age 46.3 years) were included in the analyses. Multivariate structural equation modeling revealed that climate worry severity and frequency were significantly associated with PEBs (β = 0.34 and β = 0.45, respectively). Climate worry frequency was associated with functional impairment (β = 0.41). Functional impairment was only marginally associated with PEBs (β = 0.05). Approximately 40% of the sample (n = 484) reported a high frequency and high severity of climate worry. Among these, one-third (n = 153) scored above the cutoff for significant impairment on the WSAS. Individuals in this group (high severity and frequency of climate worry as well as significant functional impairment) were more likely to experience depressed mood and sleep problems and were more interested in receiving support, specifically concerning strategies for worry management and sustainable behavior change.
Using an established measure of functional impairment, we found an association of climate worry with functional impairment and PEBs. Importantly, as there is a perceived need for support in individuals with impairment due to climate worry, interventions targeting this specific subgroup should be developed.
很大一部分人因气候担忧而在日常生活中出现功能障碍。然而，目前对这种功能障碍的理解受到使用欠佳测量方法的限制。此外，尚不清楚因气候担忧导致的功能障碍是否会影响亲环境行为（PEBs），或者经历这种障碍的个体是否认为需要支持。本研究的目的是：（1）使用既定的功能障碍测量方法（工作和社会适应量表，WSAS）扩展先前的研究；（2）探讨气候担忧、功能障碍和亲环境行为之间的关联；（3）描述因气候担忧而出现功能障碍的个体的特征以及他们对支持的感知需求。
针对经历气候担忧的成年个体进行横断面调查。2022年9月至10月在瑞典全国范围内招募参与者。该调查包括气候担忧严重程度、气候担忧频率、功能障碍、亲环境行为、抑郁症状、睡眠问题的测量，以及与感知支持需求相关的问题。
共有1221名成年人（75%为女性，平均年龄46.3岁）纳入分析。多变量结构方程模型显示，气候担忧严重程度和频率与亲环境行为显著相关（β分别为0.34和0.45）。气候担忧频率与功能障碍相关（β = 0.41）。功能障碍仅与亲环境行为有微弱关联（β = 0.05）。约40%的样本（n = 484）报告气候担忧频率高且严重程度高。其中，三分之一（n = 153）在WSAS上的得分高于显著障碍的临界值。该组个体（气候担忧严重程度和频率高以及存在显著功能障碍）更有可能出现情绪低落和睡眠问题，并且对获得支持更感兴趣，特别是关于担忧管理策略和可持续行为改变方面的支持。
使用既定的功能障碍测量方法，我们发现气候担忧与功能障碍和亲环境行为之间存在关联。重要的是，由于因气候担忧而出现功能障碍的个体感知到需要支持，应针对这一特定亚组制定干预措施。
