Climate Change Worry in Slovenia: Associations with Sociodemographic Determinants and Mental Wellbeing

To describe climate change worry on a sample of adult residents of Slovenia and analyse its associations with socio-demographic variables, including mental wellbeing.

Data from the cross-sectional study among online panellists, SI-PANDA 2024/2025, were analysed. A survey (n=1522 adults, aged 18-74) was conducted in September 2024. To measure climate change worry, a Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) was used, and mental wellbeing was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index.

The mean CCWS score in a sample of adults was 22.6, on a scale from 10 to 50 (higher score, higher level of worry). Regarding age (p<0.001), those most worried about climate change were people aged 55-64 years (M=24.1), followed by the 25-34 age group (M=23.6) and the oldest (65-74; M=23.1). People with risk of depression (M=25.1) and people with poor mental wellbeing (M=24.6) reported significantly higher (p<0.001) levels of climate change worry than people with excellent wellbeing. Higher CCWS scores were also achieved by people with risky stress behaviour (p=0.004) and those with a worse financial situation (p=0.001).

There are medium levels of climate change worry in a sample of adult residents of Slovenia. Climate change is perceived as a threat not only by young people, but also by older adults. Individuals with poor mental wellbeing, a risk of depression, or risky stress behaviour were more likely to report higher levels of climate change worry. Public health measures should reduce climate change worry by empowering vulnerable groups through environmental, group and community-based activities.