Climate change anxiety and sleep problems in the older adults

Gezgin Yazıcı H., Ökten Ç., Akhan L. U.

AGING & MENTAL HEALTH, vol.1, pp.1-10, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13607863.2025.2452937
  • Journal Name: AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, AgeLine, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-10
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives

Climate change has an impact on the prevalence of insufficient sleep and sleep disorders. This study aimed to examine climate change anxiety and sleep problems in older adults individuals.

Method

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with 664 participants between July 9 and September 10, 2024. A Personal Information Form, the Climate Change Anxiety Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index were used for data collection. In the data analysis, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare demographic variables with the climate change anxiety scale and insomnia severity index.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 71.49 ± 6.21 years and more than half of the participants were female (54.4%). The mean score of the participants on the Climate Change Anxiety Scale was 1.68 ± 0.80 and their mean score on the Insomnia Severity Index was 12.56 ± 6.91. There was a positive correlation between the Climate Change Anxiety Scale and the Insomnia Severity Index (r = 0.26, p = 0.00). The insomnia variable explained 7% of the change in the Climate Change Anxiety score (R2 = 0.07, p = 0.00).

Conclusion

Older adults experience anxiety and sleep problems regarding climate change and sleep problems in older adults increase as climate change anxiety increases.