2026/07/28 by Hasret Dikici, Derya Adibelli, Derya Adıbelli
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Climate Change and Health Impacts #Environmental Education and Sustainability
paper · doi:10.1111/phn.70161
openalex publication_date 2026/07/28 · openalex created_date 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
AIM: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between climate change anxiety and sustainable consumption behaviors among adult women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-correlational study was carried out with adult women who visited outpatient clinics at a training and research hospital located in a provincial center. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Sustainable Consumption Behavior Scale (SCBS), and the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 31.22 ± 11.97 years. In terms of exposure to climate-related events and natural disasters, 24.8% reported being exposed to earthquakes, 19.3% to forest fires and 11.5% to floods. Participants who reported having experienced climate-related events and natural disasters had significantly higher CCAS and SCBS scores (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the total CCAS score, including the sub-dimensions of anxiety and hopelessness, and the total SCBS score, along with its sub-dimensions: environmental sensitivity, non-essential purchasing, saving, and reusability. The structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated that climate change anxiety significantly and positively predicted all sub-dimensions of sustainable consumption behaviors, with the strongest effect on non-essential purchasing (β = 0.562, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that climate change anxiety serves as a psychological motivator for sustainable consumption among women. Public health nurses should integrate climate health literacy into community health assessments and design counseling programs that channel eco-anxiety into proactive environmental behaviors. Furthermore, nurses can play a pivotal role in advocating for gender-sensitive health policies that support both psychological well-being and climate resilience.