Determining The Climate Change Anxiety Levels of University Students

Year 2023, , 159 - 167, 31.08.2023

Galip Usta

https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1282642

Abstract

The Paris Agreement goes into great detail on the topic of climate change, which has been called out as one of the major issues affecting the planet. In this study, it is aimed to determine the climate change anxiety levels of university students who are expected to have a high awareness of climate change and have the potential to contribute positively to social governance, and to present solutions to minimize the negative consequences of climate change in line with the results obtained. In the study; 96% of the participants were between the ages of 18-23, between age and anxiety score (r=0.080; p=0.041), between age and helplessness score (r=0.087; p=0.026), and between age and climate change anxiety scale total score. It was determined that there was a statistically significant positive and very weak relationship between the two (r=0.086; p=0.029). A statistically significant difference was found between the median scores of anxiety and helplessness scores according to gender and 59.9% of the participants were women (p<0.001). Considering the significance level of the relationship between climate change anxiety levels and age, it can be thought that young people's anxiety about this issue may be a motivating factor in combating the negative consequences of climate change and ensuring social cohesion.

Keywords

Climate Change, Social Awareness, Climate, Climate Policies and Management

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin İklim Değişikliği Endişe Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

İklim değişikliğinin, dünyayı tehdit eden önemli sorunlardan biri haline geldiği ve bu konuya Paris Anlaşması'nda geniş bir şekilde yer verildiği belirtilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, iklim değişikliği konusunda farkındalık algısının yüksek olması beklenen ve toplumsal yönetişime pozitif katkı sunma potansiyeli bulunan üniversite öğrencilerinin iklim değişikliği endişe düzeylerinin belirlenmesi ve elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda iklim değişikliğinin olumsuz sonuçlarını en aza indirmeye yönelik çözüm önerilerinin sunulması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada; katılımcıların %96’sının 18-23 yaş aralığında olduğu, yaş ile kaygı puanı arasında (r=0,080; p=0,041), yaş ile çaresizlik puanı arasında (r=0,087; p=0,026) ve yaş ile iklim değişikliği endişe ölçeği toplam puanı arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı pozitif yönlü zayıf bir ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır (r=0,086; p=0,029). Katılımcıların %59,9’unu kadınlar oluşturmakta ve cinsiyete göre kaygı, çaresizlik puanı ortanca değerleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur (p<0,001). İklim değişikliği endişe düzeylerinin yaş ile ilişkisinin anlamlılık düzeyi göz önüne alındığında, genç kişilerin bu konuya yönelik kaygı duymalarının, iklim değişikliğinin olumsuz sonuçlarıyla mücadele etmede ve toplumsal uyumun sağlanmasında motive edici bir faktör olabileceği düşünülebilir.

Keywords

İklim Değişikliği, Toplumsal Farkındalık, İklim, İklim Politikaları ve Yönetim

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