Trait anxiety predicts pro-environmental values and climate change action

Abstract

Individuals vary greatly with respect to how much value they place on the environment. These differences, in turn, are associated with a host of pro-environmental behaviors, including the willingness to engage in actions intended to mitigate the impacts of climate change. One factor that may associate with differences in pro-environmental behaviors and attitudes is personality; however, the literature is decidedly mixed. Thus, the primary purpose of the current exploratory study was to examine whether personality, as assessed by the HEXACO-PI, is associated with variations in pro-environmental values and climate change actions. Participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed a) personality (as measure by the HEXACO-PI), b) environmental values (as measured by the New Ecological Paradigm; NEP), and c) whether they had changed their actions due to climate change considerations and the degree to which climate change had impacted their actions. Gender, political affiliation, and the anxiety sub-facet of emotionality emerged as the strongest predictors of pro-environmental attitudes. In addition, the strongest predictors of climate change action were the anxiety sub-facet of emotionality, inquisitiveness, and sociability. Interestingly, trait anxiety moderated the relationship between environmental values and climate action, such that individuals higher in both environmental values and the anxiety sub-facet of emotionality were more likely to engage in climate actions.