Climate anxiety, coping strategies and planning for the future in environmental degree students in the UK

Abstract

IntroductionThere is increasing recognition of the mental health burden of climate change and the effects on general well-being, even in those who have not (yet) experienced direct impacts. Climate anxiety, which is prominent among young people in particular, describes a state of heightened distress about the (future) effects of climate change. Despite evidence of a link between engagement in climate change issues and heightened climate anxiety, there is a dearth of knowledge on how this affects emerging professionals preparing for careers in the environmental sector. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature regarding the extent to which young adults are coping with their thoughts and feelings about climate change, and the extent to which they consider climate change in making future plans.MethodsThe aim of this study was to understand the occurrence and personal management of climate anxiety in UK university students through an online questionnaire. This study was the first to investigate the association between climate anxiety, coping strategies and future planning in university students.Results and discussion:Environmental degree students (n = 249) reported greater levels of climate anxiety, more frequent employment of all three examined coping strategies and in particular considered climate change as a factor in their career plans, as compared to their non-environmental degree counterparts (n = 224). Problem-focused coping was the most commonly endorsed strategy, although the prior literature on coping suggests that this may not be sustainable for individually intractable problems. Highly climate-anxious students were more likely to consider climate change in all five decision-making domains, including family planning, long-term habitation, career, financial and travel decisions. This study has identified a need to communicate effective climate anxiety coping strategies to environmental practitioners, university students and educators. Additional research is required to validate the study findings and investigate what motivates students to incorporate climate change into future plans.

Climate anxiety, environmental attitude, and job engagement among nursing university colleagues: a multicenter descriptive study

“…Notably, the study revealed a correlation between the use of problem-focused coping strategies and higher rates of climate anxiety. This implies that despite the limited direct exposure to climate change impacts compared to more vulnerable regions, university students in the UK are actively involved in the issue, showcasing a commitment to addressing climate concerns through their academic pursuits and career aspirations [ 5 ].…”

“…While the physical consequences of climate change are well-established, there is growing recognition of its psychological impacts. Environmental changes can impact psychological well-being, leading to stress and anxiety [ 5 ].…”

Reciprocal longitudinal relations between self‐efficacy and coping style: The explanatory mechanism of future self‐continuity

“…Research supports the relationship between coping styles and self-efficacy. Daeninck et al (2023) found that positive coping styles among UK university students lead to greater self-control, while negative coping styles result in lower self-control. Similarly, Shi and Zhao (2014) demonstrated in a cross-sectional study with Chinese university students that positive coping styles, such as problem-solving and confidence in one's abilities, have a positive impact on overall selfefficacy, whereas negative coping styles, such as self-blame and self-doubt, negatively affect overall self-efficacy.…”