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CLIMATE CHANGE ANXIETY:
The Role of Social Media, Personal Experience, and College Major
Sabine Huemer, Amrita Menon, Isabelle Hall | Oregon State University
INTRODUCTION
Climate change anxiety (CCA) involves negative
emotionality that is characterized by physical
symptoms and future-oriented apprehension
(Clayton & Karaszia, 2020).
•Nearly half of young adults ages 18 to 34
feel stressed over climate change in their daily
lives (APA, 2020).
•9% of Americans feel depressed or hopeless
because of global warming (Yale PCCC, 2022).
•The attention people pay to climate change and the
frequency of news media exposure are
positively correlated with CCA (Maran & Begotti,
2021).
•Personal impact of the effects of climate change
emphasizes the need to address the impacts of eco-
anxiety
(Hogg et al., 2024) .
Our study explores the relationship between CCA,
media exposure, college major, and
personal experience among college students
at Oregon State University (OSU). Results may
contribute to the development of intervention and
educational strategies to address mental health impacts
of climate.
METHODS
PARTICPANTS
565 responses, OSU students, Age in
M=21.66, MD=20.00.
Gender Identity (see Table 1), Ethnic Identity
(see Figure 1).
MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE
Anonymous 30-item Qualtrics survey:
•Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13) (Hogg et al.,
2021)
•CCA Scale (Clayton & Karazsia, 2020)
•Social Media Use Questionnaire (Parry et al.,
2022).
IRB approval. Distribution of link and QR code on
campus.
Data analysis in SPSS.
RESULTS
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
STATISTICAL ANALYSES
Cronbach’s alpha test: HEAS affective symptoms
and rumination subscales: acceptable internal
consistency; behavioral symptoms and anxiety about
personal impact subscales: good internal consistency.
Spearman’s correlation tests:
•Significant positive correlation between CCA
and social media use & frequency,
rs(462) =0.34, p<0.001.
•Significant positive correlation between CCA
and personal experience,
rs(526) = 0.36, p<0.001 .
One-way ANOVA:
Statistically significant difference in CCA between at least
two college major categories, F(5,423)=3.23, p=.006.
•Bonferroni post-hoc test: Significant difference
between Arts, Music, Liberal Arts and Health and
Social Science majors (p=.031, 95% C.I. = [0.30,
11.86]). The effect size is large, η2=0.037. No
significant differences between other college majors,
p<.05. For mean CCA values by college major
category, see Figure 2.
Multiple linear regression:
•Fitted regression model: CCA = 2.55 + 0.83 (personal
experience) + 0.53 (social media use and frequency) +
0.008 (major category).
•The overall regression was statistically significant
(R2 = 0.18, F(3,413) = 31.45, p<.001).
•Personal experience significantly predicted
CCA (β= 0.31, p<.001). See Figure 3.
•Social media use and frequency significantly
predicted CCA (β= 0.21, p<.001). See Figure 4.
•College major categories did not significantly
predict CCA scores (β= 0.012, p<.001).
•95% Confidence interval: personal experience (0.58
and 1.08), social media use & frequency (0.29 to 0.77).
•For predictors of CCA by importance, see Figure 5.
Note: Statistically significant difference in CCA between Arts, Music,
and Liberal Arts majors & Health & Social Science majors (p=.031,
95% C.I. = [0.30, 11.86]); large effect size, η2 = 0.037.
Note: Fitted regression model: CCA = 2.55 + 0.83 (personal
experience) + 0.53 (social media use and frequency) + 0.008
(major category). The overall regression was statistically
significant (R2 = 0.18, F(3,413) = 31.45, p<.001). Personal
experience significantly predicted CCA (β = 0.31, p<.001) as
did social media use and frequency (β = 0.21, p<.001).
College major categories did not significantly predict CCA
scores (β = 0.012, p<.001). C.I.: The slope to predict CCA
from personal experience is between 0.58 and 1.08 and
from 0.29 to 0.77 from social media use and frequency.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
•Negative perception of social media use &
frequency and personal experience are positively
correlated and predict CCA. College major is not a
significant predictor.
•Findings underscore the significance of social media's
role in CCA and urgency for targeted interventions with
increasing numbers of personal experiences.
•Future research is to explore other contributors to CCA
and the relationship with pro-environmental behaviors.
•The mental health effects of climate change are a
growing concern. Low-threshold, low-cost intervention
and educational strategies are needed to address these
issues on a larger scale.
IRB# HE-2024-810
Pre-registration: osf.io/ctnb2
Contact
Sabine Huemer, Ph.D.
School of Psychological Science
Oregon State University
sabine.huemer@oregonstate.edu