Climate Anxiety in a Young Population at Risk of Suicide

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale: Standardized tool for evaluating suicidal ideation and behavior. Measures severity and intensity of suicidal thoughts and actions.

Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version: 22-item self-report questionnaire assessing cognitive, emotional, functional, and pro-environmental dimensions of climate change-related anxiety.

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, French version: 40-item self-report inventory measuring both state and trait anxiety levels.

Socio demographic profil: Collects demographic and background variables such as age, gender, education level and living conditions.

Study summary

Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. The direct perception of climate-related disruptions has been shown to engender a profound sense of helplessness and loss. This distress, termed eco-anxiety, is characterised by feelings of fear, sadness and guilt regarding the planet's future.

In a context where there has been a marked increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts among young people over the past decade, it is essential to explore the psychological manifestations of eco-anxiety within this vulnerable population. The paucity of studies investigating this association underscores the significance of the present research.

The aims of this study is to examine the relationship between climate anxiety and suicidal risk among young people aged 16 to 24 years.

The study will encompass 108 young participants aged between 16 and 24 years, who are either hospitalised or receiving outpatient psychiatric care.

Each participant will be required to complete one clinician-administered assessment, namely the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and two self-report questionnaires: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version (CCAS-FR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y).

Furthermore, a sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered in order to collect information regarding the subjects' age, sex, education level, living conditions, and psychiatric history.

It is hypothesised that there is a positive association between climate anxiety and suicidal risk, with the most eco-anxious participants showing higher C-SSRS scores. It is further predicted that eco-anxiety will correlate with elevated levels of state and trait anxiety, with the potential for modulating this relationship by sociodemographic factors, including gender.

This study will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impacts of climate change on young people and help identify the most vulnerable profiles.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Climate Change Anxiety Score — 10 min
  Global score from the 13-item French version of the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS-FR), obtained by summing the cognitive, emotional, and functional disturbance subscales. Higher scores indicate greater levels of climate change-related anxiety. Score ranges 13 to 65
• Suicide Risk Score — 10 min
  Overall score of suicidal ideation and behavior assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Higher scores indicate greater suicide risk Score ranges from 2 to 25.

Trial sites (1)

More Centre Hospitalier Esquirol trials in France

Other trials for the same condition