Climate change-induced eco-anxiety and asthma control in pediatric patients: A cross-sectional nursing study

Pediatric asthma remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children globally. The rising environmental threats associated with climate change have introduced eco-anxiety as a novel psychological factor that may influence asthma control. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between climate change-induced eco-anxiety and asthma control among pediatric patients with asthma.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric patients with asthma at the chest outpatient clinics of a public hospital in Egypt from February to May 2024. A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 233 participants, aged from 6 to 12 years. Data were collected through structured validated tools, including the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13). The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 26). Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression.

Most participants (57.1 %) exhibited inadequately controlled asthma. The mean asthma control score was 18.55 (±4.57) out of 27, while the mean eco-anxiety score was 14.24 (±10.65) out of 52. A significant negative correlation was observed between asthma control and eco-anxiety (r = -0.300, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that higher eco-anxiety scores, history of asthma hospitalization, family history of asthma, and having a divorced parent significantly predicted poorer asthma control (Adjusted R² = 0.242, p < 0.001).

Eco-anxiety is a significant psychological predictor of poor asthma control among children, particularly when compounded by sociodemographic factors such as being divorced, employee father, having a history of hospitalization for asthma, and having a family history of asthma. The findings underscore the need for pediatric nursing interventions that integrate psychological assessment and support into asthma management, emphasizing eco-anxiety as a modifiable factor to improve health outcomes.