Psychological factors predicting attitudes towards climate change among youth in India

Pages: 227-234
N. Annalakshmi, K. Arthe, and K. Keerthana (Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

Social scientists have an essential role in examining the human aspects of climate change. Individual differences can influence how one responds to issues related to climate change. The present study aims at understanding the psychological factors that predict attitude towards climate change among youth. Asurvey on personality and attitude towards climate change was completed by 200 young adults in the age group 18 to 25 years. Personality was assessed in terms of HEXACO personality factors. Regression analysis that was used to analyze the data revealed that the personality traits namely honesty-humility and openness to experience positively predicted climate change beliefs. Climate change intentions were positively predicted by honesty-humility, extraversion, and negatively predicted by agreeableness and conscientiousness. The findings of the study have implications for sensitizing youth towards climate change.