Climate Anxiety and Youth Activism: A Cross-Cultural Sociological Perspective

Abstract

This cross-cultural sociological study examines the relationship between climate anxiety and youth activism across diverse cultural contexts. Through analysis of survey data from 1,847 young people aged 16-29 across 12 countries and 72 in-depth interviews, this research explores how cultural values, social structures, and institutional contexts shape both the experience of climate anxiety and its translation into activist engagement. Findings reveal significant cross-cultural variations in climate anxiety manifestations, with collectivist cultures showing higher levels of community-oriented climate concerns while individualist cultures exhibit more personal psychological distress. The study identifies three primary pathways from climate anxiety to activism: emotional transformation, social identity formation, and efficacy development. Cultural factors moderate these pathways, with collectivist societies facilitating community-based activism while individualist contexts promote personal agency-focused engagement. The research contributes to understanding how global environmental challenges intersect with local cultural contexts to produce varied forms of youth political engagement. Implications include the need for culturally sensitive approaches to climate communication and youth mental health support, as well as recognition of diverse forms of environmental activism emerging from different cultural contexts.