Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England
The global health community recognises climate change as a public health emergency due to its direct and indirect impacts on health and wellbeing. This study explores sociodemographic differences in climate change concern and pro-environmental behaviours by socioeconomic status, their association wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Sustainable Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2025.2500182 |
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| author | Jonathan R. Olsen Claire L. Niedzwiedz Ruth Dundas Jala Rizeq Gergő Baranyi Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi Jill Pell |
| author_facet | Jonathan R. Olsen Claire L. Niedzwiedz Ruth Dundas Jala Rizeq Gergő Baranyi Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi Jill Pell |
| author_sort | Jonathan R. Olsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global health community recognises climate change as a public health emergency due to its direct and indirect impacts on health and wellbeing. This study explores sociodemographic differences in climate change concern and pro-environmental behaviours by socioeconomic status, their association with wellbeing, and whether experiences of climate change (e.g. residing in flood-affected or temperature-changing areas) mediate wellbeing outcomes. Using data from Understanding Society, a national panel survey in England (2018/19, n = 24,950, age 16+), the study examined climate concern, 11 pro-environmental behaviours, satisfaction with these behaviours, and three wellbeing outcomes: life satisfaction, optimism, and psychological distress. Data were spatially linked with flood (2010–18) and summer temperature changes (2001–2020). Climate concern varied by sociodemographic factors, with older and disadvantaged groups most satisfied with their behaviours. Individuals satisfied with their environmental actions reported better wellbeing, while dissatisfaction was linked to distress and worse life satisfaction. However, pro-environmental behaviours themselves were not associated with wellbeing. Residing in flood-affected or temperature-changing areas also showed no link to wellbeing. Addressing wellbeing impacts related to climate concern requires targeted mitigation strategies, especially for those dissatisfied with their environmental actions. Pro-environmental behaviours could act to mitigate against the potential adverse effects of eco-anxiety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-251502e4dd6e4cc9994e9236ca0f53c0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2765-8511 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainable Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-251502e4dd6e4cc9994e9236ca0f53c02025-08-20T02:57:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSustainable Environment2765-85112025-12-0111110.1080/27658511.2025.2500182Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in EnglandJonathan R. Olsen0Claire L. Niedzwiedz1Ruth Dundas2Jala Rizeq3Gergő Baranyi4Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi5Jill Pell6MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKCentre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UKMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UKThe global health community recognises climate change as a public health emergency due to its direct and indirect impacts on health and wellbeing. This study explores sociodemographic differences in climate change concern and pro-environmental behaviours by socioeconomic status, their association with wellbeing, and whether experiences of climate change (e.g. residing in flood-affected or temperature-changing areas) mediate wellbeing outcomes. Using data from Understanding Society, a national panel survey in England (2018/19, n = 24,950, age 16+), the study examined climate concern, 11 pro-environmental behaviours, satisfaction with these behaviours, and three wellbeing outcomes: life satisfaction, optimism, and psychological distress. Data were spatially linked with flood (2010–18) and summer temperature changes (2001–2020). Climate concern varied by sociodemographic factors, with older and disadvantaged groups most satisfied with their behaviours. Individuals satisfied with their environmental actions reported better wellbeing, while dissatisfaction was linked to distress and worse life satisfaction. However, pro-environmental behaviours themselves were not associated with wellbeing. Residing in flood-affected or temperature-changing areas also showed no link to wellbeing. Addressing wellbeing impacts related to climate concern requires targeted mitigation strategies, especially for those dissatisfied with their environmental actions. Pro-environmental behaviours could act to mitigate against the potential adverse effects of eco-anxiety.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2025.2500182Pro-environmental behaviourclimate worrywellbeinginequalitiesfloodtemperature |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan R. Olsen Claire L. Niedzwiedz Ruth Dundas Jala Rizeq Gergő Baranyi Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi Jill Pell Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England Sustainable Environment Pro-environmental behaviour climate worry wellbeing inequalities flood temperature |
| title | Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England |
| title_full | Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England |
| title_fullStr | Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England |
| title_short | Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England |
| title_sort | linkages between socioeconomic inequalities pro environmental behaviours climate change concerns and experiences and wellbeing outcomes in england |
| topic | Pro-environmental behaviour climate worry wellbeing inequalities flood temperature |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2025.2500182 |
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