Summary: Last summer’s “heat dome” that produced record temperatures across Western North America also led to measurable increases in climate change anxiety, a new study finds.
Source: Simon Fraser University
The 2021 Western North American “heat dome” did more than set temperature records: it coincided with a clear rise in anxiety about climate change among people in British Columbia, according to new research.
Researchers from the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance (MHCCA) measured higher levels of climate change anxiety following the heat dome event. Their study, published in the Journal of Climate Change and Health, is among the first to document direct links between an extreme weather event and increased mental health concerns related to climate change.
The team emphasizes that ongoing monitoring of climate change anxiety is necessary to understand how single events and repeated or compounding events affect mental health over time.
Data from more than 850 residents of British Columbia aged 16 and older revealed several notable changes after the heat dome:
- Average climate change anxiety scores rose by roughly 13 percent following the heat dome.
- Most respondents said they felt much (40.1 percent) or somewhat (18.4 percent) more worried about climate change after the event.
- Those who believed their region was very likely to be devastated by climate change increased from 17.5 percent before the heat dome to 29.8 percent afterward.
- The share who thought their industry would be affected by climate change rose from 35.0 percent to 40.3 percent after the heat dome.
- Most participants reported being impacted by the heat dome to some degree: 40.8 percent said they were somewhat affected and 17.4 percent said they were greatly affected.
MHCCA director Kiffer Card, an assistant professor in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, explains the significance: “Our research explores an important link between two of the most pressing public health challenges of our time: mental health and climate change. The findings reinforce that planetary health and personal health are deeply connected.”
The MHCCA plans to keep tracking climate-related distress among British Columbians and aims to expand this research to cover the rest of Canada. The team has applied for federal funding to support wider monitoring and analysis, but Card notes that limited federal investment in health research related to climate change has been a barrier to larger-scale work. Over the past decade, less than 1 percent of Canadian health research funding has focused on climate change or global warming, according to national research records.
This study is notable for using a validated climate change anxiety measurement tool, the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), to assess how extreme heat affected mental health. Applying a standardized measure provides stronger, more comparable evidence that extreme weather events can increase climate-related anxiety.
“Leading medical journals and public health organizations identify climate change as one of the greatest threats to human health in this century,” Card says. “We are already seeing more frequent, longer and more severe extreme weather events—heat waves, floods and other hazards—that produce direct and indirect harm to individuals and communities. Our findings indicate that worsening mental health is an immediate effect as people confront the changing environment around them.”
About this mental health and climate change research news
Author: Press Office
Source: Simon Fraser University
Contact: Press Office – Simon Fraser University
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Original Research: Open access. “The 2021 Western North America Heat Dome Increased Climate Change Anxiety Among British Columbians: Results from A Natural Experiment” by Andreea Bratu et al., Journal of Climate Change and Health.
Abstract
The 2021 Western North America Heat Dome Increased Climate Change Anxiety Among British Columbians: Results from A Natural Experiment
Introduction
Extreme weather linked to climate change poses a growing risk to mental health. This study estimates how the June 25 – July 1, 2021 Western North American heat dome affected climate change anxiety among people living in British Columbia.
Methods
The researchers ran an online survey of British Columbians aged 16 and over, recruiting participants via paid social media advertisements. Data were collected in two waves: before the heat dome (May 12 – June 21, 2021; n = 439) and after the heat dome (July 15 – July 18, 2021; n = 420). The Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) measured levels of climate-related anxiety. A multivariable inverse Gaussian regression model tested for differences in CCAS scores pre- and post-heat dome while accounting for possible confounders, including age, gender, ethnicity, education, income and political orientation. The reliability of the CCAS was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.
Results
Following the heat dome, many participants reported increased worry about climate change: 40.1 percent felt much more worried and 18.4 percent somewhat more worried. Average CCAS scores rose from 1.66 (SD = 0.80) before the event to 1.87 (SD = 0.87) after the event. Multivariable modelling showed this increase was statistically significant after adjusting for confounders (Estimate = 0.057, standard error = 0.148, p < 0.001). The CCAS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94).
Discussion
The findings indicate a significant rise in climate change anxiety among British Columbians following the 2021 heat dome. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring and research to understand the cumulative and long-term mental health impacts of extreme weather and other climate-related events. Better tracking can inform public health responses and help communities prepare mental health support alongside emergency planning.