“I start to doubt whether any of my actions will matter”: youth activists’ experiences and expressions of the emotions associated with climate change

Abstract

This study provides insights on the ways that youth express and process the emotions arising from their involvement in climate action. The specific objectives were to: (1) understand the ways youth come to know, conceptualize and reflect on climate change, (2) explore how youth’s emotions in response to climate change impacts their everyday lives; and (3) determine the modalities in which youth are expressing and processing such emotions. We used a grounded theory approach and the photovoice interview method to elicit participant’s views on climate-change-related emotions and interviews were analysed using qualitative data analysis software according to a grounded theory approach. The study resulted in identifying key themes, as well as supports for youth experiencing difficult emotions associated with climate change.