Climate worry: associations with functional impairment, pro-environmental behaviors and perceived need for support

A large proportion of individuals experience functional impairment in everyday life due to climate worry. However, the current understanding of this functional impairment is limited by the use of suboptimal measures. Furthermore, it is not known whether functional impairment due to climate worry affects pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) or whether individuals who experience such impairment perceive a need for support. The aims of the current study were (1) to extend previous research using an established measure of functional impairment (the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, WSAS), (2) to explore the associations between climate worry, functional impairment, and PEBs, and (3) to describe the characteristics and the perceived need for support of individuals with functional impairment due to climate worry.

A cross-sectional survey targeting adult individuals who experience climate worry. Participants were recruited nationally in Sweden between September and October 2022. The survey included measures of climate worry severity, climate worry frequency, functional impairment, PEBs, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and questions related to perceived need for support.

A total of 1221 adults (75% women, mean age 46.3 years) were included in the analyses. Multivariate structural equation modeling revealed that climate worry severity and frequency were significantly associated with PEBs (β = 0.34 and β = 0.45, respectively). Climate worry frequency was associated with functional impairment (β = 0.41). Functional impairment was only marginally associated with PEBs (β = 0.05). Approximately 40% of the sample (n = 484) reported a high frequency and high severity of climate worry. Among these, one-third (n = 153) scored above the cutoff for significant impairment on the WSAS. Individuals in this group (high severity and frequency of climate worry as well as significant functional impairment) were more likely to experience depressed mood and sleep problems and were more interested in receiving support, specifically concerning strategies for worry management and sustainable behavior change.

Using an established measure of functional impairment, we found an association of climate worry with functional impairment and PEBs. Importantly, as there is a perceived need for support in individuals with impairment due to climate worry, interventions targeting this specific subgroup should be developed.