Beckord Jil, Gebhardt Nadja, Nikendei Christoph, Krakowczyk Julia Barbara, Skoda Eva-Maria, Teufel Martin, Bäuerle Alexander
Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2025 Jul-Sep;25(3):100613. doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100613. Epub 2025 Aug 5.
Climate change has significant consequences on mental health, which are summarized under concepts like eco-anxiety or climate change distress. However, these recently developed concepts still suffer from a lack of clarity.
The aim of this study is to improve the conceptual clarity of climate change distress through analysing its' correlations with various psychological and demographic factors. In this context, the specific associations of climate change distress are compared to those of general distress.
In a cross-sectional study = 1000 participants completed an online questionnaire. Climate change distress was assessed using the 'Climate Change - Man-Made Disaster-Related Distress Scale'. General distress was assessed using the Distress Thermometer, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Several measurement instruments were examined as possible correlates. The outcomes were investigated using multiple linear regression models.
Relevant correlates of climate change distress included trust in government to handle climate change and several emotion regulation strategies. The associated factors of general distress were distinct from those of climate change distress, such as gender and sense of coherence.
The results suggest that the correlates of climate change distress differ from those of general distress. This implies that climate change distress and general distress are two related, however distinct constructs. The associated factors can be promising targets for psychotherapy and intervention strategies.
气候变化对心理健康有重大影响，这些影响被归纳在生态焦虑或气候变化困扰等概念之下。然而，这些最近发展起来的概念仍缺乏清晰度。
本研究的目的是通过分析气候变化困扰与各种心理和人口统计学因素的相关性，来提高气候变化困扰这一概念的清晰度。在此背景下，将气候变化困扰的具体关联与一般困扰的关联进行比较。
在一项横断面研究中，1000名参与者完成了一份在线问卷。使用“气候变化 - 人为灾害相关困扰量表”评估气候变化困扰。使用困扰温度计、广泛性焦虑症量表和患者健康问卷评估一般困扰。对几种测量工具作为可能的相关因素进行了检验。使用多元线性回归模型对结果进行研究。
气候变化困扰的相关因素包括对政府应对气候变化的信任以及几种情绪调节策略。一般困扰的相关因素与气候变化困扰的不同，如性别和连贯感。
结果表明，气候变化困扰的相关因素与一般困扰的不同。这意味着气候变化困扰和一般困扰是两个相关但不同的概念。相关因素可能是心理治疗和干预策略的有前景的目标。
