The Relationship Between Pregnant Women's Awareness and Worry About Climate Change and Their Perception of Risk During Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between pregnant women’s climate change awareness and worry and their risk perception during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study with a correlational design was conducted between November 2024 and May 2025. The study sample consisted of the pregnant women, with the recorded their trimester. Data were collected using the “Introductory Information Form”, “the Climate Change Awareness Scale”, “the Climate Change Worry Scale”, and “the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Scale”. In the analysis of the data, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting climate change awareness, anxiety, and perceived pregnancy risk. Results: The study included 273 pregnant women selected through quota sampling, with 91 participants from each trimester. The mean climate change awareness score was positively correlated with the total climate change worry score and the helplessness and anxiety subscale scores (p<0.01). A moderate significant correlation was identified between the total score of the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Scale, the subscale scores for perceived risk to the baby and oneself, and the average total scores of “the Climate Change Awareness Scale” and “the Climate Change Worry Scale”. This relationship also involved factors such as previous miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and traumatic life events during pregnancy (p<0.01). Conclusion: Climate change awareness among pregnant women was associated with increased climate change worry, which was significantly related to both general risk perception and perceived risk to the baby. Pregnancy complications and traumatic life experiences were also important factors shaping risk perception.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• awareness
• climate change
• pregnancy
• risk

Ethical Statement

Approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of University (Date: 14.10.2024, Decision No: 2024/1932). Institutional permission (Date: 19.11.2024, Number: E-34771223-774.99-259983464) was also received from the hospital where the research was conducted. All participants provided informed consent forms. The research was conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Gebelerin İklim Değişikliği Farkındalığının ve Endişesinin Gebelikte Risk Algısı ile İlişkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırma, gebelerin iklim değişikliği farkındalığı ve endişe düzeyi ile gebelikte risk algısı arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Materyal ve Metot: İlişki arayıcı nitelikte tanımlayıcı bir çalışma olan bu araştırma Kasım 2024-Mayıs 2025 tarihleri arasında yürütülmüştür. Çalışmaya gebe kadınlar alınmış, her gebenin trimesteri kaydedilmiştir. Araştırmanın verileri, “Tanıtıcı Bilgi Formu”, “İklim Değişikliği Farkındalık Ölçeği”, “İklim Değişikliği Endişesi Ölçeği” ve “Gebelikte Risk Algısı Ölçeği” kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde, iklim değişikliği farkındalığı, endişesi ve gebelikte risk algısını etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek için çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmada kota örneklemesi kullanılarak, araştırma her trimesterden 91 gebe olacak şekilde toplamda 273 gebe ile tamamlandı. İklim değişikliği farkındalığı puan ortalaması iklim değişikliği endişesi toplam puan, çaresizlik ve kaygı alt boyut puan ortalamaları arasında pozitif yönlü bir ilişkiye sahiptir (p<0,01). Gebelikte risk algısı toplam ölçek puanı, bebeğe ve kendine yönelik risk algısı alt boyut puan ortalamaları ile iklim değişikliği farkındalığı ölçeği toplam puan ortalaması, iklim değişikliği endişesi ölçeği toplam puan ortalaması, düşük yapma durumu, gebelik sırasında komplikasyon yaşama durumu ve gebelik sırasında travmatik bir yaşam deneyimi yaşama değişkenleri arasında orta düzeyde ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir (p<0,01). Sonuç: Gebelerde iklim değişikliği farkındalığının artması, iklim değişikliği endişesini artırmış; bu endişe ise genel risk algısı ve bebeğe yönelik algılanan risk ile anlamlı ilişki göstermiştir. Ayrıca, gebelik komplikasyonları ve travmatik yaşam deneyimleri risk algısını etkileyen önemli faktörler olarak belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Ansiyete
• farkındalık
• gebelik
• iklim değişikliği
• risk

Ethical Statement

Üniversite Etik Komitesi'nden onay alındı (Tarih: 14.10.2024, Karar No: 2024/1932). Araştırmanın yapıldığı hastaneden kurumsal izin (Tarih: 19.11.2024, Numara: E-34771223-774.99-259983464) de alındı. Tüm katılımcılar bilgilendirilmiş onay formları sağladı. Araştırma, Helsinki Bildirgesi'nde belirtilen ilkelere uygun olarak yürütülmüştür.

References

1. 1. Jakučionytė-Skodienė M, Liobikienė G. The changes in climate change concern, responsibility assumption and ımpact on climate-friendly behaviour in EU from the Paris agreement until 2019. J Environ Manage. 2022;69(1):1-16.
2. 2. Bowen KJ, Ebi KL, Woodward A, McIver L, Tukuitonga C, Nayna Schwerdtle P. Human health and climate change in the Pacific: a review of current knowledge. Clim Dev. 2024;16(2):119-133.
3. 3. Agache I, Akdis C, Akdis M, et al. Immune-mediated disease caused by climate change-associated environmental hazards: mitigation and adaptation. Front Sci. 2024;2:1279192. doi:10.3389/fsci.2024.1279192
4. 4. Stewart AE. Psychometric properties of the climate change worry scale. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(2):494. doi:10.3390/ijerph18020494
5. 5. Kaya L, Keles E, Baydili KN, Kaya Z, Kumru P. Impact of climate change education on pregnant women's anxiety and awareness. Public Health Nursing. 2025;42:54-60. doi:10.1111/phn.13455
6. 6. Lee TM, Markowitz EM, Howe PD, Ko CY, Leiserowitz AA. Predictors of public climate change awareness and risk perception around the world. Nature Clim Change. 2015;5:1014-1020.
7. 7. Evcili F, Dağlar G. Perception of pregnancy risk scale: Turkish validity and reliability study. Çukurova Med J. 2019;44(1):211-22. doi:10.17826/cumj.554151
8. 8. Ha S. The changing climate and pregnancy health. Curr Envir Health Rpt. 2022;9:263–275.

9. 9. Lykins AD, Bonich M, Sundaraja C, Cosh S. Climate change anxiety positively predicts antenatal distress in expectant female parents. J Anxiety Disord. 2024;101:102801. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102801
10. 10. Fan W, Zlatnik MG. Climate change and pregnancy: Risks, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2023;78(4):223-236.
11. 11. Ataman Bor N, Matyar F, Amanak K. The relationship between risk perception and adjustment pregnancy in low and high risk pregnants. Artuklu IJ Health Sci. 2023;3(3):298-303. doi:10.58252/artukluder.1298874
12. 12. Gözüyeşil E, Özertürk Ö. Perception of risk in pregnancy and determination of affecting factors; Inter-trimester comparison. Journal of Adnan Menderes University Health Sciences Faculty. 2022;6(3), 467-477. doi:10.46237/amusbfd.1035974
13. 13. Pandipati S, Leong M, Basu R, Abel D, Hayer S, Conry J. Climate change: Overview of risks to pregnant persons and their offspring. Semin Perinatol. 2023;47(8):151836. doi:10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151836
14. 14. Majid U, Wasim A, Bakshi S, Truong J. Knowledge, (mis-)conceptions, risk perception, and behavior change during pandemics: A scoping review of 149 studies. Public Underst Sci. 2020;29(8):777-799.
15. 15. Parry L, Radel C, Adamo SB, et al. The (in)visible health risks of climate change. Soc Sci Med. 2019;241:112448. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112448
16. 16. Olson DM, Metz GAS. Climate change is a major stressor causing poor pregnancy outcomes and child development. F1000Res. 2020;9:1222. doi:10.12688/f1000research.27157.1
17. 17. Rothschild J, Haase E. Women's mental health and climate change part II: Socioeconomic stresses of climate change and eco-anxiety for women and their children. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;160:414-420.
18. 18. Ataklı G, Kuran H. Development of climate change awareness scale. Biological Diversity and Conservation. 2022;15(2):150-161.
19. 19. Gezer M, İlhan M. Climate Change Worry Scale: Turkish adaptation study. Aegean Geographical Journal. 2021;30(1):195-204. doi:10.51800/ecd.932817
20. 20. Heaman M, Gupton A. Psychometric testing of the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire. Res Nurs Health. 2009;32:493-503.
21. 21. Altınayak SÖ, Söylemez T. Effects of climate changes on anxiety and quality of life in pregnant women. BAUN Health Sci J. 2025;14(1):16-23.
22. 22. Bezgin S, Akgül Kartal S. The relationship between climate change worry and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in Turkish pregnant women: A cross-sectional study. Healthcare. 2026; 14(4):493. doi:10.3390/healthcare14040493
23. 23. Altiparmak S, Karabulut Bozal S. The relationship of risk perception in pregnancy with uncertainty tolerance and psychological resilience. BAUN Health Sci J. 2025;14(1):107-113.
24. 24. Okyay EK., Sunay Z. Examination of the relationship between perception of risk and wellness in pregnancy. Socrates Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Studies. 2022;14:1-12. doi:10.51293/socrates.162
25. 25. Evcili F, Demirel G, Hastaoglu F. The Effect of Covid-19 pandemic process on risk perception, coping ways of Turkish pregnant women. Curr Res Health Sci. 2025;3(1):1-8.
26. 26. Lee S, Holden D, Webb R, Ayers S. Pregnancy related risk perception in pregnant women, midwives & doctors: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2019;19:1-8.
27. 27. Altıparmak S, Tolan E, Kundi MN, Atabey K, Karabulut Bozal Ş, Aysoy Derya Y. The relationship of pregnancy planning status with perception of risk and anxiety during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study. Genel Tıp Derg. 2024;34(6):755-763.
28. 28. Lawson DF, Stevenson KT, Peterson MN, Carrier SJ, Strnad RL, Seekamp E. Children can foster climate change concern among their parents. Nat Clim Chang. 2019;9(6):458-462.
29. 29. Edis EK. The effect of climate change on mother-infant health: A qualitative study on views of pregnant women. STED. 2024;33(3):173-79. doi:10.17942/sted.1330117
30. 30. Uyanik A, Koç G, Ardiç M. The effect of pregnancy health literacy on risk perception in pregnancy and pregnancy anxiety. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2025;25(1):664. doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07792-w
31. 31. Socol ID, Abu-Awwad A, Socol FG, et al. Psychological vulnerability during pregnancy and its obstetric consequences: A multidimensional approach. Healthcare. 2025; 13(17):2211. doi:10.3390/healthcare13172211
32. 32. Kartal B, Güncü S. Predictive effect of climate change worry on depression in pregnant women. Curr Psychol. 2025;44:14052-14059.
33. 33. Collery A, Niedzwiedz CL. Climate change worry and the association with future depression and anxiety: cross-national analysis of 11 European countries. BMJ Ment Health. 2025;28(1):e301318. doi:10.1136/bmjment-2024-301318
34. 34. Regnoli GM, Tiano G, De Rosa B. Is climate change worry fostering young Italian adults’ psychological distress? An Italian exploratory study on the mediation role of intolerance of uncertainty and future anxiety. Climate. 2024;12(8):118. doi:10.3390/cli1208011