Crisis Management Days

Climate Anxiety Among Croatian Youth: Emotional and Behavioral Responses to the Climate Crisis

Maja Janković

croatian

Iva Tolić Mandić

Tamara Tišma

Keywords: climate anxiety, youth, environmental behavior, Croatia, climate change awareness, mental health

---

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly recognized not only as an environmental and socio-political issue but also as a significant psychological stressor, particularly among youth. These research results provide insights into how young people in Croatia perceive climate change, experience climate-related anxiety, and respond behaviorally to environmental challenges. Based on a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review with a quantitative survey of 131 participants aged 18 to 25, the research examines levels of awareness, emotional responses, and the mental health impacts associated with climate change.

The results reveal limited familiarity with the term “climate anxiety.” Although most participants rated their knowledge of climate change as moderate, a considerable number reported experiencing worry, fear, and sleep disturbances related to climate concerns. Emotional reactions included fear (most dominant), followed by anger, sadness, and, to a lesser extent, hope. Many respondents also reported difficulties with concentration, changes in appetite, and a general decline in psychological well-being. The findings further indicate a strong belief in collective responsibility, with societal efforts viewed as more impactful than individual actions. While professional psychological support was rarely sought, many young people reported coping through conversations with friends or participation in environmental activities.

These findings underscore the importance of integrating climate change topics into formal education, enhancing psychosocial support structures, and promoting youth agency through participatory climate action. By placing the experiences of Croatian youth within the broader international context, these research results contribute to a deeper understanding of the emotional and behavioral dimensions of climate anxiety.

---

References

Ančić, B., Puđak, J., & Domazet, M. (2016). Environmental attitudes and behaviors in Croatia: Trends and determinants.

Clayton, S. (2020). Climate anxiety: Psychological responses to climate change. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 74, 102263. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-023-01430-y

Cosh S. M., Williams S. E., Lykins A. D., Bartik W., Tully P. J. (2024) Detecting and classifying eco-anxiety: development of clinical cut-off scores for the climate change anxiety scale. BMC Psychol. 2024 Dec 18;12:738. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02240-4.

Crandon J. T., Scott G. J., Charlson J. F., Thomas J. H. (2024). Coping with climate anxiety: impacts on functioning in Australian adolescents. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00050067.2024.2404987

Cvetković, A. (2017). Gender differences in environmental attitudes among Croatian youth.

Dolenec, D., & Pejnović, D. (2014). The role of education in shaping environmental consciousness.

European Commission. (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021). Special Eurobarometer reports on climate change.

Fridays for Future Croatia. (2019). Youth climate activism in Croatia.

Henn, M., Sloam, J., & Nunes, A. (2022). Young people, climate activism, and political engagement.

Hrgović, P. (2019). Sustainability education in the Croatian school system.

Oliver, J., & Adkins, S. (2020). Comparative climate awareness: Croatia and the EU

Pitron V., Lemogne C., Clayton S., Léger D., Van den Bergh O., Witthöft M. (2024) Climate change anxiety and its association with somatic symptom distress and idiopathic environmental intolerances: A cross-sectional study, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Volume 187, 111937

Plohl N., Mlakar I., Musil B., Smrke U. (2023) Measuring young individuals’ responses to climate change: validation of the Slovenian versions of the climate anxiety scale and the climate change worry scale. Sec. Environmental Psychology. Volume 14 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1297782

Regnoli G. M., Tiano G., de Rosa B. (2024) 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. MDPI. Vol. 12, Issue 8, 10.3390/cli12080118

Russell T., (2024) A ‘greenhouse affect’? Exploring young Australians’ emotional responses to climate change. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-024-03737-y

Sampaio F., Costa T., Teixeira-Santos L., Guedes de Pinho L., Sequeira C., Luís S., Loureiro A., Soro J.C., Merino J. R., Moreno Poyato A. M., Peña Loray J. S., Rodríguez Quiroga P., Léan V. O’Brien L. V., Teaghan L. Hogg T. L., Stanley S. K. (2023) Validating a measure for eco-anxiety in Portuguese young adults and exploring its associations with environmental action

Steffen, W., et al. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet.

Šimac, I., Trako Poljak, T., & Ivanović, V. (2021). Perceptions of climate change among Croatian citizens.

Treble M., Cosma A., Martin G. (2023). Child and Adolescent Psychological Reactions to Climate Change: A Narrative Review Through an Existential Lens

Tsevreni I., Proutsos N., Tsevreni M., Tigkas D. (2023) Generation Z Worries, Suffers and Acts against Climate Crisis—The Potential of Sensing Children’s and Young People’s Eco-Anxiety: A Critical Analysis Based on an Integrative Review. Vol. 11. Issue 8. 10.3390/cli11080171. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11080171

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF (2022). The impact of climate change on children: A global crisis. Accessed from https://www.unicef.org/environment-climate-change

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF (2024). Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. Accessed from https://www.unicef.org/environment-and-climate-change/climate-declaration

Von Gal A., Fabiani G., Piccardi L. (2024) Climate change anxiety, fear, and intention to act. Sec. Environmental Psychology. Volume 15 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1341921

World Health Organization, WHO. (2021). Climate change and health. Accessed from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health