Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Climate Change Anxiety Scale

The challenge of climate change has become increasingly pressing in the 21st century, leading individuals to experience negative psychological effects. Climate change anxiety refers to the chronic fear of environmental doom caused by concerns about climate change. To assess this phenomenon, researchers have developed a 22-item self-report scale: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS). This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the 22-item CCAS in 411 university students. The factor structure of the Italian version of the CAAS was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alphas, and concurrent validity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 PHQ-4. The Italian version of the CAAS demonstrated a good fit for a higher-order model with four factors (cognitive-emotional impairment, functional impairment, experience of climate change, and behavioural engagement) regressed onto a higher-order climate change anxiety factor. Concurrent validity with PANAS and PHQ-4 was also confirmed. The Italian version of the CAAS is a reliable instrument for measuring climate change anxiety also in the Italian context. It opens promising opportunities for research and intervention aimed at coping with this issue, promoting well-being.