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Do Individuals with High Climate Anxiety Believe That They Will Die Earlier? First Evidence from Germany

Author

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  • André Hajek

    (Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Hans-Helmut König

    (Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between climate anxiety and perceived longevity in the general adult German population (also stratified by age group). Study design: Nationally representative survey. Methods: Data were used of the general adult German population, with n = 3015 individuals (18 to 74 years; data collection: March 2022). Climate anxiety was assessed using the validated Climate Anxiety Scale. It was adjusted for a wide array of covariates in linear-log regression analysis. Results: Even after adjusting for various covariates, there was an association between higher (log) climate anxiety and a lower perceived longevity in the total sample (β = −1.41, p < 0.01). Stratified by age group, a significant association was only present among individuals aged 18 to 29 years (β = −3.58, p = 0.01), whereas it was not present in the other age groups (i.e., individuals aged 30 to 49 years, individuals aged 50 to 64 years, and individuals aged 65 years and over). Conclusions: This study showed an association between higher climate anxiety and lower perceived longevity, particularly among younger individuals. More clearly, younger individuals with a higher climate anxiety think they will die earlier. This is the first study on this topic and could serve as a foundation for upcoming research. For example, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • André Hajek & Hans-Helmut König, 2023. "Do Individuals with High Climate Anxiety Believe That They Will Die Earlier? First Evidence from Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-8, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:5064-:d:1096088
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tao Xue & Tong Zhu & Yixuan Zheng & Qiang Zhang, 2019. "Author Correction: Declines in mental health associated with air pollution and temperature variability in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-1, December.
    2. Marlis C. Wullenkord & Josephine Tröger & Karen R. S. Hamann & Laura S. Loy & Gerhard Reese, 2021. "Anxiety and climate change: a validation of the Climate Anxiety Scale in a German-speaking quota sample and an investigation of psychological correlates," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Brian P. Shaw, 2021. "Meeting assumptions in the estimation of reliability," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 21(4), pages 1021-1027, December.
    4. André Hajek & Hans-Helmut König, 2022. "Climate Anxiety, Loneliness and Perceived Social Isolation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Tao Xue & Tong Zhu & Yixuan Zheng & Qiang Zhang, 2019. "Declines in mental health associated with air pollution and temperature variability in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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