Reliability generalization meta-analysis of the Climate Change Worry Scale

Area of Science:

• Eco-psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Climate change worry is a significant area of study in eco-psychology.
• The Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) is a widely used instrument for assessing climate change worry.
• Previous research has not synthesized the reliability of the CCWS across different studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a reliability generalization meta-analysis of the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS).
• To evaluate the consistency of CCWS reliability estimates across various studies and populations.

Main Methods:

• An exhaustive literature search was performed across multiple databases (EBSCO, ERIC, Taylor & Francis, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar) using the keyword "Climate Change Worry Scale."
• Data from 37 papers, yielding 40 Cronbach's alpha coefficients, were analyzed using a random effects model and Bonnet transformation.
• Moderator analysis was conducted to assess the impact of sample descriptors and study characteristics on reliability.

Main Results:

• The pooled Cronbach's alpha for the CCWS was 0.932 (95% CI = 0.919-0.942), indicating high reliability.
• Sample descriptors and study characteristics did not significantly influence the reliability estimates.
• A reliability induction rate of 29.41% was observed.

Conclusions:

• The Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) demonstrates robust reliability across diverse settings, making it a dependable measure for climate change worry.
• While generally reliable, high heterogeneity in primary studies highlights the need for detailed reporting of sample demographics and administration conditions.
• The findings support the CCWS's utility in various cultural and linguistic contexts for assessing psychological responses to climate change.