VALIDATING A NOVEL MEASURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE EXPOSURE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE (CERS): A US-BASED PILOT STUDY

Author

• Brittany KingFollow

Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Clinical Psychology

Department or School/College

Psychology

Committee Chair

Rachel Williamson, PhD

Commitee Members

Duncan Campbell, PhD, Jennifer Robohm, PhD

Keywords

climate change, psychometrics, psychology, mental health, trauma, measure

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

As climate change intensifies, humans are increasingly impacted by rising temperatures and environmental disruptions (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021). Unlike most traumas that typically involve discrete events, climate change presents a series of potentially traumatic events that may unfold in multiple forms — direct, indirect, and anticipatory — across vastly different contexts. Direct exposure to climate change events (e.g., heat waves, wildfires, floods, desertification) has been linked to worsened mental health (Clayton et al., 2021; Augustinavicius et al., 2021). Indirect exposure (e.g., through learning about others’ experiences) and anticipatory exposure (e.g., future-oriented concerns about projected climate change impacts) also contribute to psychological distress (Clayton, 2020; Cianconi, et al., 2020). However, existing scales that measure the psychological impacts of climate change often lack specificity in capturing the complex types of climate exposures and responses, limiting scientific insights into the possible range and pervasiveness of individual experiences with climate change. This study introduces and provides preliminary psychometric testing of a novel measure, the Climate Exposure and Response Scale (CERS), that combines an exposure checklist with a psychological response scale. Exploratory factor analysis of the response scale yielded a three-factor solution reflecting reactive distress, withdrawal responses, and positive engagement in response to different forms of climate change exposure. Overall, findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity evidence of the CERS. Notably, indirect and anticipatory exposures were associated with psychological responses similar to those associated with direct exposure to climate change. The CERS represents a promising tool to capture the diverse ways individuals encounter and are psychologically affected by climate change.

Recommended Citation

King, Brittany, "VALIDATING A NOVEL MEASURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE EXPOSURE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE (CERS): A US-BASED PILOT STUDY" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12631.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12631