Do Individuals with High Climate Anxiety Believe That They Will Die Earlier? First Evidence from Germany

TY - JOUR

T1 - Do Individuals with High Climate Anxiety Believe That They Will Die Earlier? First Evidence from Germany

AU - Hajek, André

AU - König, Hans-Helmut

PY - 2023/3/13

Y1 - 2023/3/13

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between climate anxiety and perceived longevity in the general adult German population (also stratified by age group).STUDY DESIGN: Nationally representative survey.METHODS: Data were used of the general adult German population, with n = 3015 individuals (18 to 74 years; data collection: March 2022). Climate anxiety was assessed using the validated Climate Anxiety Scale. It was adjusted for a wide array of covariates in linear-log regression analysis.RESULTS: Even after adjusting for various covariates, there was an association between higher (log) climate anxiety and a lower perceived longevity in the total sample (β = -1.41, p < 0.01). Stratified by age group, a significant association was only present among individuals aged 18 to 29 years (β = -3.58, p = 0.01), whereas it was not present in the other age groups (i.e., individuals aged 30 to 49 years, individuals aged 50 to 64 years, and individuals aged 65 years and over).CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an association between higher climate anxiety and lower perceived longevity, particularly among younger individuals. More clearly, younger individuals with a higher climate anxiety think they will die earlier. This is the first study on this topic and could serve as a foundation for upcoming research. For example, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between climate anxiety and perceived longevity in the general adult German population (also stratified by age group).STUDY DESIGN: Nationally representative survey.METHODS: Data were used of the general adult German population, with n = 3015 individuals (18 to 74 years; data collection: March 2022). Climate anxiety was assessed using the validated Climate Anxiety Scale. It was adjusted for a wide array of covariates in linear-log regression analysis.RESULTS: Even after adjusting for various covariates, there was an association between higher (log) climate anxiety and a lower perceived longevity in the total sample (β = -1.41, p < 0.01). Stratified by age group, a significant association was only present among individuals aged 18 to 29 years (β = -3.58, p = 0.01), whereas it was not present in the other age groups (i.e., individuals aged 30 to 49 years, individuals aged 50 to 64 years, and individuals aged 65 years and over).CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an association between higher climate anxiety and lower perceived longevity, particularly among younger individuals. More clearly, younger individuals with a higher climate anxiety think they will die earlier. This is the first study on this topic and could serve as a foundation for upcoming research. For example, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph20065064

DO - 10.3390/ijerph20065064

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 36981973

VL - 20

JO - INT J ENV RES PUB HE

JF - INT J ENV RES PUB HE

SN - 1660-4601

IS - 6

M1 - 5064

ER -