Climate Change-Related Psychosocial Profiles Among Nursing Academics in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed-Methods Study

This study aims to evaluate the psychosocial profiles, knowledge, and awareness related to climate change among nursing academics in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia.

A concurrent/convergent mixed method design was adopted. Data were collected from 77 faculty members across four nursing colleges in Saudi Arabian universities, between May 2024 and March 2025. Initially, participants completed a web-based questionnaire assessing their psychosocial profiles related to climate change, utilizing the Climate Change Perceptions Scale (CCPS), the Urban Residents Psychological Security Scale (URPS), and the Neighborhood Cohesion Instrument (NCI). Subsequently, a purposive sample of 20 faculty members participated in follow-up interview sessions.

Our study revealed that participants exhibited a moderate perception of climate change, with a mean score of 43.10 (SD = 11.68) out of 56. Urban residents' psychological security was relatively high (M = 61.01, SD = 5.98), with social security scoring highest (M = 27.58, SD = 3.73). Neighborhood cohesion was moderate (M = 61.63, SD = 12.89), with the psychological sense of community scoring highest (M = 31.51, SD = 7.66), reflecting strong local connections. The interviews with academics on psychosocial profiles related to climate change were analyzed and categorized into three main themes: (1) Recognizing and Responding to Climate Change, (2) A Sense of Security: Feelings and Crime Rate Perceptions among Nurses, and (3) Perceiving and Engaging with the Neighborhood.

Climate change is a pressing crisis that cannot be handled or assessed solely based on perception or awareness levels. This underscores the need for a more proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges, along with targeted interventions to enhance climate change awareness and engagement among academics within higher education institutions.