Climate Change and Emotions: A Comparative Study across Affected and Non-Affected Provinces in Iran

Climate change emotions Climate-change engagement Comparative Study

Authors

  • Faramarz Sohrabi Department of Clinical Psychology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Pir Hossein Kolivand Department of Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. Research Center for Health Management in Mass Gatherings, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Razie Alishvandi Deputy of International Affairs, Iranian Red Crescent, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Hadi Ahmadi Head of Iranian Red Crescent Climate Center, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Mahboubeh Asadi Department of Clinical Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Yaser Motavali Deputy of Directorship Section of Iranian Red Crescent, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Peyman Mamsharifi
    peymanmamsharifi@gmail.com
    Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2025)
Quantitative Study(ies)
December 8, 2024
February 26, 2025

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Objective: This study aims to compare climate-related emotions in provinces with higher and lower climate change impacts.

Methods and Materials: The statistical population included residents from 10 provinces (5 with higher and 5 with lower climate change impacts) in 2024. A total of 1,379 valid questionnaires were collected using the climate change emotions questionnaire (Marczak, Wierzba, Zaremba & et al., 2023). Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including Student's t-test.

Findings: Significant differences were found in the emotional responses of anger, passion, anxiety, and sorrow between the provinces with higher and lower climate change impacts (p<0.001). In other words, people in provinces with lower climate change impacts reported higher emotional scores.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that emotional responses to climate change are more pronounced in provinces with lower climate change impacts. This underscores the mental health implications of climate change and the need for targeted interventions in different regions.