Eco-Anxiety in Undergraduates: An Exploration of Western Washington University Students’ Beliefs of and Personal Experiences with Climate Change and Ecological Crisis

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the prevalence, population demographics, and experiential trends of eco-anxiety among undergraduates at a medium-sized university in Washington State. Participants: 194 undergraduate students at Western Washington University participated in a survey disseminated in April and May of 2023. Methods: Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey with sociodemographic information. The survey featured questions from three questionnaires: the Eco-Anxiety Questionnaire, a global youth survey published in the Lancet, and a climate anxiety scale addressing negative beliefs and personal experiences of climate change and the ecological crisis. Analyses were performed with SPSS 29. Results: Findings suggest a high prevalence of eco-anxiety among undergraduates within the measure of habitual ecological worry (80.9%), which represents externally focused concerns. Directly experiencing or being affected by climate change was associated with higher eco-anxiety scores (p-value= \u3c0.001). Conclusions: Further research is required to examine experiences of eco-anxiety at other higher education institutions and to understand how courses and services can be designed to best prepare students in a climate changing world