Year of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Clinical Psychology

Department or School/College

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Rachel Williamson

Commitee Members

Stuart Hall, Bryan Cochran, Jennifer Robohm, Patrick Burke, Ashby Kinch

Keywords

climate change, eco-anxiety, eco-grief, mental health, moral injury

Abstract

Climate change poses many threats to human health, from vector-borne illnesses and food shortages to injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather events. Less understood outcomes include the consequences of climate change for mental wellbeing; although the field of psychology examining these effects is growing, gaps in the literature regarding climate-related distress persist, particularly regarding the diverse ways in which people experience climate change-related psychosocial impacts and how they cope with distress. Thus, this study examined the impact of climate change on mental wellbeing through a comprehensive survey that sampled Montana residents across the state (n = 247). Results showed that participants who organically included climate change in their vision of the future had significantly fewer positive (X2 (1, N = 241) = 11.22, p = .001) and neutral (X2 (1, N = 241) = 10.18, p = .001) descriptions and significantly more negative (X2 (1, N = 241) = 14.90, p < .001) descriptions. Climate change emerged as a top life stressor for 20.5% of the sample, and results identified age, climate identity, confidence in collective ability to address climate change, nature connectedness, and social standing as predictors of psychosocial distress. Other domains of psychological impact were also assessed. The results of this project provide clarity on the type and acuity of climate-related distress and inform subsequent research study priorities for prevention and intervention development. Additionally, this project may help inform Montana’s climate resiliency efforts, including community outreach, climate communication, and education efforts.

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