Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS)
Introduction: As global concerns about climate change intensify, emerging research reveals a link between climate change anxiety and individuals' decisions regarding parenthood. More people are choosing not to have children due to worries about their carbon footprint or the future implications...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-11-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Climate Change and Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000543 |
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| author | Matteo Innocenti Gabriele Santarelli Chiara Comerci Niccolò Carluccio Enrico Anzaghi Chiara Cadeddu |
| author_facet | Matteo Innocenti Gabriele Santarelli Chiara Comerci Niccolò Carluccio Enrico Anzaghi Chiara Cadeddu |
| author_sort | Matteo Innocenti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: As global concerns about climate change intensify, emerging research reveals a link between climate change anxiety and individuals' decisions regarding parenthood. More people are choosing not to have children due to worries about their carbon footprint or the future implications of climate change on their offspring. This trend emphasizes the critical necessity for a nuanced comprehension of how environmental concerns intertwine with reproductive intentions. To address this imperative, our study develops the Climate Change-related Reproductive Concerns Scale (CCRCS) and evaluates its psychometric properties. Methods: CCRCS was developed and validated in a sample of 206 Italian adults aged 19 to 51. Ten items were created to evaluate climate change-related reproductive attitudes: 5 anti-reproductive items and 5 pro-reproductive, with their responses reversed for consistency in interpretation. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor structure, explaining 63.82 % of the variance, with the scale demonstrating good internal consistency (α = 0.85). The factor structure was replicated, and the scale's validity was examined through correlations with measures of eco-paralysis and climate change anxiety, with significant correlations supporting construct validity. Furthermore, the relationship between climate change-related reproductive concerns and adaptation responses was explored, assessing the impact of framing on CCRCS scores. Conclusion: The CCRCS provides a reliable and valid measure of these concerns, highlighting the psychological impact of climate change anxiety on reproductive decision-making and emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding in this area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ded80d4e8ca4a44a735153f5d6be5b2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-2782 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Climate Change and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ded80d4e8ca4a44a735153f5d6be5b22024-12-10T04:14:55ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822024-11-0120100351Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS)Matteo Innocenti0Gabriele Santarelli1Chiara Comerci2Niccolò Carluccio3Enrico Anzaghi4Chiara Cadeddu5Italian Climate Change Anxiety Association (AIACC), Florence, Italy; Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyItalian Climate Change Anxiety Association (AIACC), Florence, ItalyItalian Climate Change Anxiety Association (AIACC), Florence, ItalyItalian Climate Change Anxiety Association (AIACC), Florence, ItalyItalian Climate Change Anxiety Association (AIACC), Florence, ItalyErasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Introduction: As global concerns about climate change intensify, emerging research reveals a link between climate change anxiety and individuals' decisions regarding parenthood. More people are choosing not to have children due to worries about their carbon footprint or the future implications of climate change on their offspring. This trend emphasizes the critical necessity for a nuanced comprehension of how environmental concerns intertwine with reproductive intentions. To address this imperative, our study develops the Climate Change-related Reproductive Concerns Scale (CCRCS) and evaluates its psychometric properties. Methods: CCRCS was developed and validated in a sample of 206 Italian adults aged 19 to 51. Ten items were created to evaluate climate change-related reproductive attitudes: 5 anti-reproductive items and 5 pro-reproductive, with their responses reversed for consistency in interpretation. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor structure, explaining 63.82 % of the variance, with the scale demonstrating good internal consistency (α = 0.85). The factor structure was replicated, and the scale's validity was examined through correlations with measures of eco-paralysis and climate change anxiety, with significant correlations supporting construct validity. Furthermore, the relationship between climate change-related reproductive concerns and adaptation responses was explored, assessing the impact of framing on CCRCS scores. Conclusion: The CCRCS provides a reliable and valid measure of these concerns, highlighting the psychological impact of climate change anxiety on reproductive decision-making and emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding in this area.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000543Eco-anxietyEco-paralysisClimate change anxietyClimate change worryClimate change-related reproductive concerns scaleClimate change-related reproductive concerns |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Innocenti Gabriele Santarelli Chiara Comerci Niccolò Carluccio Enrico Anzaghi Chiara Cadeddu Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) The Journal of Climate Change and Health Eco-anxiety Eco-paralysis Climate change anxiety Climate change worry Climate change-related reproductive concerns scale Climate change-related reproductive concerns |
| title | Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) |
| title_full | Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) |
| title_fullStr | Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) |
| title_short | Development and validation of the climate change-related reproductive concerns scale (CCRCS) |
| title_sort | development and validation of the climate change related reproductive concerns scale ccrcs |
| topic | Eco-anxiety Eco-paralysis Climate change anxiety Climate change worry Climate change-related reproductive concerns scale Climate change-related reproductive concerns |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000543 |
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