Climate Disaster Exposure, Eco-Anxiety, and Hope Among Pakistani Youth: Agency and Trust as Moderators

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a psychological as well as environmental challenge, and the vulnerability of the younger generation in Pakistan due to the adverse effects of climate change is of particular concern. This study examined the relationship between distress associated with exposure to climate disasters, climate-change hope, and Eco-anxiety among Pakistani youth and the moderating role of political trust and perceived agency. A cross-A sectional, correlational survey design was used, and data were collected from 255 young adults aged 18-29 from educational institutions and social media. Participants filled out validated scale measures on levels of disaster-related distress, political trust, sense of agency, eco-anxiety, and climate change hope. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v.25. Model results revealed that disaster distress was a significant positive predictor of eco-anxiety, but not climate change hope. Additionally, none of the hypothesized moderations were supported by the results, pointing to alternative mechanisms of the development of eco-anxiety, as well as climate change hope among the sample. The study may help to inform interventions towards building youth agency, enhancing communication of trauma-informed messages, and enhancing institutional trust.