Éco-Anxiété: Construction d’une représentation sociale et différences intergénérationnelles.

Abstract

Introduction : Eco-anxiety is a rising concern among the population due to the impacts of climate change on our environment. This anxiety can lead to mental and emotional stress, potentially affecting individuals' mental health. Objectives : To investigate the social representation of this societal phenomenon and its intergenerational differences. Methods : The structuring of the social representation was conducted using the hierarchical verbal association method, a prototypical analysis, and a similarity analysis. Results : The findings suggest that, on one hand, eco-anxiety is subject to a structured social representation and, on the other hand, there is variability in this representation based on the generation to which one belongs at the time of the study. Conclusion : The representation of eco-anxiety is structurally different across generations, highlighting a greater significance of this phenomenon for the younger cohorts. Communication strategies and awareness campaigns about the impacts of climate change on our societies can benefit from considering these differences.