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The Italian Adaptation and Validation of the Climate Change Coping Scale (CCCS): Assessing Coping Strategies for the Climate Emergency Among Young Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgio Maria Regnoli

    (Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy)

  • Gioia Tiano

    (Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy)

  • Barbara De Rosa

    (Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Via Porta di Massa 1, 80133 Naples, Italy)

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time. Its increasingly visible effects make it a global worry and a chronic stressor, especially for specific developmental targets such as young adults. This study outlines the process of the Italian adaptation and validation of the Climate Change Coping Scale (CCCS), an instrument that examines three distinct coping strategies for addressing climate change. Study I, conducted with a sample of 230 Italian young adults (42.6% males; 57.4% females), explores the latent structure of the instrument using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Parallel Analysis (PA) and outlines the preliminary psychometric properties of the CCCS. A distinct sample of 500 Italian young adults (38.6% males; 61.4% females) was selected for Study II, which presents the results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), supporting a first-order factor structure with three correlated dimensions. These dimensions, as in the original scale, are labeled ’Meaning-Focused Coping’ (five items), ’Problem-Centered Coping’ (five items), and ’De-Emphasizing/Avoidance Coping’ (six items). The internal reliability of the CCCS, the measurement of invariance between males and females, and its discriminant and convergent validity are also described. Finally, significant differences in the levels of the three identified coping strategies are presented and discussed in relation to sociodemographic variables, including gender, political orientation, occupational and relationship status, and participation in environmental organizations. Overall, the results of Studies I and II highlight the reliability, validity, and robustness of the Italian version of the Climate Change Coping Scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgio Maria Regnoli & Gioia Tiano & Barbara De Rosa, 2025. "The Italian Adaptation and Validation of the Climate Change Coping Scale (CCCS): Assessing Coping Strategies for the Climate Emergency Among Young Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2622-:d:1613569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Ojala, 2013. "Coping with Climate Change among Adolescents: Implications for Subjective Well-Being and Environmental Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Alan E. Stewart, 2021. "Psychometric Properties of the Climate Change Worry Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-22, January.
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