Related Experiment Videos
Mindfulness, climate anxiety and psychological distress: a pathway to pro-environmental action in Pakistani emerging
Nuzhat Bashir1, Iram Gul1, Rakhshanda Liaqat2,3
1Department of Behavioural Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Abstract:
Climate-related worry is increasingly recognized as a mental health concern and a potential correlate of pro-environmental behavior (PEB). However, little is known about these associations in the Global South or the potential role of mindfulness. This crosssectional study examined relationships among climate change anxiety, psychological distress, mindfulness, and PEB in 340 university students (aged 19-25 years) from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Data were collected between January and June 2024 using validated measures of climate change anxiety (Climate Change Anxiety Scale), psychological distress (DASS-21), dispositional mindfulness (MAAS), and PEB. Analyses included bivariate correlations, block-wise linear regression, and mediation models (PROCESS Model 4; 5,000 bootstrap resamples). Climate change anxiety was positively correlated with psychological distress (r = .47, p < .001) and indirectly associated with lower PEB through distress (ab = -.09, 95% CI [-.15, -.04]). Regression analyses showed that mindfulness was positively associated with PEB (β = .27, p < .001), whereas distress (β = -.22, p = .002) and climate change anxiety (β = -.18, p = .018) were negatively associated with PEB. Mindfulness was indirectly associated with higher PEB through lower distress (ab = .11, 95% CI [.05, .19]) and lower climate change anxiety (ab = .08, 95% CI [.02, .15]), while also showing a direct positive association with PEB. These findings highlight mindfulness as a relevant factor for understanding climate-related distress and environmental engagement among young adults.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Self-Awareness and Its Effects
Dimensions of Health and Illness