Parenting in a changing climate: the relationship between talking to children aged 5-11 about climate change, family eco-behaviours and climate change anxiety

Jackson, Jessica; Rawson, Rebecca; Colman, Rory; Kotero, Yasuhiro; Brooks-Ucheaga, Michelle

Abstract

Climate change has a substantial impact on human health and the increased symptoms of climate change anxiety have led to a global call for action. However, data exploring the relationship between climate change, mental health, and individuals with parental responsibility is limited. This study examined the association between parental climate anxiety with talking to their children about climate change, eco-behaviours, and demographic factors. This cross-sectional study employed an anonymous online questionnaire comprised of the 22-item Climate Change Anxiety and Eco-behaviours validated scale, disseminated using a snowballing technique. Participants were included if they (a) were guardians with parental responsibilities of at least one primary school-age child (5-11 years old) and (b) lived in the UK. A sample of 153 participants was included in the analysis. The findings highlighted higher levels of climate change anxiety for parents who also reported that the child talks about climate change, where the family engaged in eco-friendly and pro-environmental action and where parents also reported that the child worries about climate change. This study offers valuable insights into the nuanced engagements around climate change and mental health among those with parental responsibility in the UK. The implications of these findings extend to informing policies, interventions, and educational strategies aimed at supporting parents and guardians to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on mental health.

Citation

Jackson, J., Rawson, R., Colman, R., Kotero, Y., & Brooks-Ucheaga, M. (2024). Parenting in a changing climate: the relationship between talking to children aged 5-11 about climate change, family eco-behaviours and climate change anxiety. Global Health Economics and Sustainability, 2(3), Article 3172. https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3172

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 17, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Publication Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 20, 2024
• Journal: Global Health Economics and Sustainability
• Electronic ISSN: 2972-4570
• Publisher: AccScience Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 3172
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3172
• Keywords: Climate change; Parenting; Mental health; Eco-behavior; Climate change anxiety
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/36568471