Facilitators and barriers of climate engagement in adolescents: How do eco-anxiety and self-efficacy relate to pro-environmental behavior in adolescence?

Abstract

The effects of climate change will disproportionately affect younger generations: Youth of today will have to deal with the adverse effects of climate change on nature, health and people’s livelihood and communities. The idea that climate change is an imminent threat to their future causes today’s children and youth to become increasingly anxious. To help adolescents face the climate crisis, we need to understand the factors that facilitate or hinder adolescents from engaging in pro-environmental behavior. This study investigated whether eco-anxiety influences the likelihood of adolescents participating in pro-environmental behavior. In addition, this study aimed to further explore the influence of a potential moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between eco-anxiety and the pro-environmental behaviors in adolescents. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using data collected from a sample of 259 Dutch adolescents. Participants completed surveys assessing eco-anxiety, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavior, and environmental self-efficacy and pro-environmental behavior. However, contrary to the expectations, environmental self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavior. This might be due to the low scores for eco-anxiety in this sample. Many of the adolescents were only mildly worried about climate change. In addition, environmental self-efficacy was found to be a stronger predictor of pro-environmental behavior than eco-anxiety. To equip adolescents with the necessary tools to cope with the consequences of climate change, it is recommended that environmental self-efficacy is promoted in adolescents through providing information or facilitating open discussions about climate change.