MARIYAM AHMED,DEBARGHYA BISWAS,DR. GAJENDRA SHARMA
DOI: https://doi.org/Eco-anxiety, or environmental anxiety, is an emerging psychological issue, especially for those living in island and coastal communities at risk of climate change impacts, including rising sea levels, erosion, and severe weather. The goal of this study was to create and assess a specific psychometric scale for measuring environmental anxiety in these at-risk populations. A cross-sectional survey of participants from targeted islands and coastal areas, totaling 312, was conducted. The scale underwent extensive testing including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to assess structural validity. Findings revealed the existence of a three-factor model made up of Emotional Distress, Cognitive Concern, and Behavioral Response which accounts for a significant amount of variance in the environmental anxiety response. Internal consistency was supported as evidenced by high Cronbach’s alpha, and strong construct reliability was supported by Composite Reliability and Average Variance Extracted metrics. The scale demonstrated significant correlations with general anxiety, confirming convergent validity. The results illustrate the lack of specific psychological instruments designed to evaluate the impacts of environmental factors on health. The scale can be utilized by mental health professionals, climate change adaptation planners, and decision makers for tackling environmental anxiety in places with the highest risks.
