The Impact of Climate Change Anxiety on the Willingness To Have Children Among Married Individuals

Abstract

AimThis study aims to examine the impact of climate change anxiety on the willingness to have children among married individuals.Subject and methodsThe research is designed as a descriptive study within a relational screening model. The study sample consists of 977 married individuals aged 18-49. Data collection tools include the Sociodemographic Information Questionnaire, Climate Change Anxiety Scale, and the Willingness to Have Children Scale. Data were evaluated using SPSS 27-V.ResultsAmong the participants, 73.2% are women, and 79.5% live in nuclear families. Participants scored an average of 28.58 +/- 9.212 on the Climate Change Anxiety Scale and 54.05 +/- 7.647 on the Willingness to Have Children Scale. The impact of individuals' climate change anxiety on their willingness to have children was determined using simple linear regression. The findings indicate that climate change anxiety significantly predicts the willingness to have children.ConclusionThe results of the study suggest that climate change has significant effects not only on the environment but also on psychological health, influencing individuals' decisions regarding having children. These findings highlight the need for climate change mitigation policies to consider psychological well-being alongside environmental solutions. It is recommended to implement awareness-raising education and establish psychological support mechanisms for different segments of society.