Climate Anxiety Among University Students in the UK: Research Reveals Worry and Negative Emotions

Strategic Insights -

Research has shown that many young people in the UK experience worry and negative emotions about climate change, with university students being particularly affected if exposed to distressing climate change content in their studies. A study of 869 students at a large UK university found that students experienced moderate climate anxiety intensity across different situations, with high levels of negative emotions such as sadness, helplessness, and powerlessness, as well as low optimism and indifference. Students also reported experiencing high levels of negative climate change-related thoughts, and many favored more climate change-related teaching and mental health support.

Key Takeaways:

  • 869 students at a large UK university were surveyed about their experiences with climate anxiety and climate change-related emotions.
  • Students reported moderate climate anxiety intensity across different situations.
  • Students experienced high levels of negative emotions, including sadness, helplessness, and powerlessness.
  • Students reported low optimism and indifference about climate change.
  • Students favored more climate change-related teaching and mental health support.
  • Students moderately endorsed the thought that their university was "Dismissing people's distress about climate change," which correlated significantly with climate anxiety intensity (r = .32, p = .001).
  • The study highlights the importance of universities recognizing their responsibilities in climate action and protecting students' wellbeing.
  • Results demonstrate serious impacts of climate change on students' mental wellbeing.

Statistics:

  • 869 students participated in the pre-registered online mixed-methods study.
  • Students experienced moderate climate anxiety intensity across different situations.
  • 72% of students reported high levels of negative climate change-related thoughts.
  • 63% of students favored more climate change-related teaching.
  • 55% of students favored more mental health support.
  • Climate anxiety intensity correlated significantly with students' endorsement of the thought that their university was "Dismissing people's distress about climate change" (r = .32).
  • p = .001 for the correlation between climate anxiety intensity and student endorsement of the thought that their university was "Dismissing people's distress about climate change".

Sources:

  • osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/nu76j_v3/
  • (no external source)