The concerned steward effect: Exploring the relationship between climate anxiety, psychological distress, and self-reported climate related behavioural engagement

Lukacs, Julia N.; Bratu, Andreea; Adams, Shona; Logie, Carmen; Tok, Nathaniel; McCunn, Lindsay J.; Lem, Melissa; Henley, Arden; Closson, Kalysha; Martin, Gina; Gislason, Maya K.; Takaro, Tim; Card, Kiffer G.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102091

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…An interaction analysis revealed that as climate change anxiety scores rose, the impact of self-reported behavioral engagement on psychological distress diminished. The phenomenon under discussion is commonly known as "the concerned steward effect," which pertains to the inclination of persons who possess a higher level of worry towards climate change to actively take part in actions aimed at mitigating climate impacts [ 10 ]. Nevertheless, it was noted that this phenomenon was less pronounced among persons who experienced elevated degrees of anxiety related to climate change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inversely, the negative correlation between climate anxiety and different proportions of job engagement, including physical, affective, and thoughtful engagement, as well as overall academic job engagement, suggests that higher levels of climate anxiety are accompanied by decreased engagement in various aspects of work. Climate anxiety can lead to increased psychological distress, divert attention from work-related tasks, and evoke feelings of helplessness or despair, all of which can undermine individuals' ability to fully engage in their work [ 8 , 10 , 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is widely recognized that attitudes toward climate change can have a significant impact on the development of effective solutions [ 9 ]. Previous research showed that people with a positive environmental attitude are more likely to recycle, reduce energy use, and use alternative transportation [ 10 , 11 ]. In addition, there is a strong correlation between favorable environmental attitudes and the implementation of climate change mitigation strategies, as well as their impact on job performance and occupational functioning [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Atta,

Zoromba,

El-Gazar

et al. 2024

BMC Nurs

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Background Climate change, a pervasive global phenomenon, exerts discernible impacts on the physical, social, and psychological dimensions of well-being. The apprehension surrounding this complex environmental issue has reached a critical juncture, with over 76,000 individuals across more than thirty nations expressing profound levels of concern, characterizing their anxiety as either "very" or "extremely" pronounced. This surge in awareness regarding the potential consequences of climate change has given rise to an emergent and escalating challenge known as climate anxiety. This distinctive form of anxiety manifests through profound feelings of fear, helplessness, and despair elicited by the impending repercussions of climate change. Notably, the intersection of climate anxiety with occupational domains, particularly within the context of Nursing University Colleagues, suggests a nuanced relationship with job engagement, wherein the psychological responses to climate change may influence professional commitment and involvement. Aim of the study To examine the correlation among Climate Anxiety, Environmental Attitude, and Job Engagement among Nursing University Colleagues comprising eight distinct nursing faculties. Design A multicenter descriptive, cross-sectional research design study followed. Subject Three hundred fifty-nine participants from the Centre, Delta, West, Suez Canal, and Upper regions of Egypt using a stratified random cluster sampling technique. Measurements Social and health related to climate data structured questionnaire, climate anxiety scale, environmental attitude inventory, and job engagement scale. Results The influence of demographics on climate anxiety, environmental attitude, and job involvement was not observed. Nevertheless, geographical variations emerged as a noteworthy factor. A statistically significant inverse correlation was identified between climate anxiety, job engagement dimensions, and the overall score of environmental attitudes. Conclusion Climate anxiety was strongly associated with environmental attitudes and job engagement among nursing university colleagues. Higher climate anxiety is associated with a lower attitude towards the environment and decreased job engagement. Additionally, a higher attitude towards the environment is associated with decreased overall engagement in participants’ jobs. Implications The study's patterns make it clear how important it is to provide targeted psycho-educational interventions to help reduce climate anxiety among the group of nursing university colleagues. The imperative lies not only in alleviating the immediate psychological distress associated with heightened climate anxiety but also in fostering adaptive coping mechanisms. By doing so, these interventions serve as instrumental tools in nurturing resilience, thereby fortifying the mental well-being of nursing professionals amidst the evolving landscape of climate-related concerns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Atta,

Zoromba,

El-Gazar

et al. 2024

BMC Nurs

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Ritual and environmental ineffectiveness: How psychological ownership of community drives environmental behavior

Tang,

Felix,

Hinsch

2023

Psychology and Marketing

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Psychological ownership has been linked to various environmental behaviors, but extant research has typically examined a specific environmental element (i.e., a lake or national park) instead of abstract entities as the target of this ownership. The current research investigates how psychological ownership of an abstract entity, namely one's community, impacts environmental attitudes and behaviors. Intrigued by previous research showing that consumer concern for the environment does not necessarily translate into pro‐environmental action, we examine the connection between psychological ownership, environmental concern, and environmental behaviors. We propose and find that the perception of environmental ineffectiveness moderates how these variables relate to one another. Counterintuitively, higher levels of perceived environmental ineffectiveness (rather than effectiveness) strengthen the relationships between these variables. We draw on the theory of ritualistic behaviors to explain this phenomenon. Results from three studies using diverse respondents and data gathering approaches reveal a consistent pattern of relationships. Our research makes several important contributions. First, it identifies a quasi‐endowment effect that extends from psychological ownership of community to environmental concern, which subsequently results in the protection of the environment through engagement in environmental behaviors. Second, this research extends the burgeoning psychological literature on rituals to the domain of environmental behaviors. Finally, using the conceptualization of environmental behavior as a ritual, this is the first study to illustrate how perceived consumer ineffectiveness moderates the effect of psychological ownership on environmental behaviors through environmental concern.

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Can you picture it? Effects of positive and negative depictions of climate futures on climate action intentions

Troy,

Norman,

Kim

et al. 2024

Journal of Environmental Psychology

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The concerned steward effect: Exploring the relationship between climate anxiety, psychological distress, and self-reported climate related behavioural engagement

Cited by 8 publications

References 63 publications

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

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

Ritual and environmental ineffectiveness: How psychological ownership of community drives environmental behavior

Can you picture it? Effects of positive and negative depictions of climate futures on climate action intentions

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