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Are COVID-19 and climate change competing crises? New evidence on the finite pool of worry and risk-as-feelings hypotheses

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  • Ran Duan

    (Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada)

  • Christian Bombara

    (Yale University)

  • Laura Crosswell

    (Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada)

Abstract

Recent studies have found mixed evidence on whether or not worrying about COVID-19 would lead to a decrease in climate change engagement. To gain more clarity in this line of research, we revisited the finite pool of worry and risk-as-feelings hypotheses by exploring whether and how COVID-19 health beliefs are associated with climate change engagement. Data were collected in February 2021 from a cross-sectional online survey of US adults (N = 434). Findings from structural equation modeling demonstrate that COVID-19 health beliefs were positively associated with fear of COVID-19, which further mediated the effect of COVID-19 health belief factors on climate change responses. While perceived severity of COVID-19 was positively associated with climate change concern, perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 was negatively associated with climate change concern. In summary, our study clarifies that a finite pool of worry hypothesis may be supported when the susceptibility dimension of risk is examined, and when evaluating the severity dimension, an opposite risk-as-feelings hypothesis may be supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Ran Duan & Christian Bombara & Laura Crosswell, 2024. "Are COVID-19 and climate change competing crises? New evidence on the finite pool of worry and risk-as-feelings hypotheses," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(2), pages 328-341, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:14:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s13412-023-00887-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-023-00887-w
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