The relationship between climate change worry and sustainability attitudes: a study of nurses

Aims: The study is to explores the associations between climate change worry and sustainability attitudes among nurses and to determine whether nurses’ attitudes differ according to various sociodemographic and professional variables. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative design and was conducted with 256 nurses working at a training and research hospital in Turkiye. Data were obtained through a Demographic Information Form and validated instruments assessing climate change worry and sustainability attitudes in nursing. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: A statistically significant positive correlation of moderate magnitude was identified between climate change worry and sustainability attitudes (r=0.535, p<0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that climate change worry significantly predicted sustainability attitudes beyond work-related and environmental engagement variables, explaining 38.4% of the variance in sustainability attitudes in the final model (β=0.418, p<0.001). Group comparison analyses revealed that sustainability and climate change worry scores differed significantly according to age group, economic status, professional experience, unit of employment, participation in sustainability-related activities, engagement in environmental sustainability practices, attendance at environmental seminars, and perceptions of the profession’s environmental impact. No significant differences were observed by gender. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that climate change worry among nurses is associated with their sustainability attitudes. Climate change worry may represent an important dimension of awareness that supports sustainability-oriented attitudes beyond contextual and behavioral factors. Enhancing nurses’ awareness of climate change and environmental sustainability may support the integration of sustainability-oriented practices within healthcare settings.