Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17234/SocEkol.34.1.2
Exposure to fear-based climate change messages in the media and pro-environmental behavior: the role of some coping strategies
Ivana Vrselja
orcid.org/0000-0002-7740-7023
; Catholic University of Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The climate crisis is associated with existential concerns that can cause fear among people. Th is fear can be further fueled by media communication about the climate crisis, as reports increasingly focus on threats such as disease outbreaks, higher mortality rates among vulnerable populations, deteriorating living conditions, and similar issues. Some authors warn that the emphasis on such threats in so-called fear appeals can lead to undesirable coping mechanisms such as denial of the problem as well as a lack of pro-environmental behavior that could mitigate the negative eff ects of climate change. Th erefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to fear-based messages about climate change in the media, strategies for coping with the threat of climate change, and the frequency of pro-environmental behaviors. Data were collected online from a quota sample of 1075 adult residents of Croatia (51.9% women) with an average age of 32 years. Participants rated how scary the climate change messages they read or hear in the media are, how they deal with the problem of climate change (problem-oriented coping and trivialization of the problem of climate change) and how often they engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Th e results of the structural modeling show that there is no direct eff ect of exposure to fear-based media messages on pro-environmental behavior, but there is a mediating eff ect of a coping strategy. More specifi cally, greater exposure to fear-based messages was associated with a greater focus on problem-focused coping, which was ultimately associated with more frequent pro-environmental behavior. Th e results were discussed within the framework of existing social psychological theories and provide guidelines for future research.
Keywords
climate change, coping strategies, fear, media, pro-environmental behavior
Hrčak ID:
330469
URI
Publication date:
29.4.2025.
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