Introduction: Climate change poses an escalating threat to human well-being, particularly in climate-vulnerable countries in the Global South. Bangladesh, a low-lying deltaic nation, is highly exposed to recurrent hazards such as floods, cyclones, and salinity intrusion, which substantially affect everyday life. While existing research has focused largely on the physical, economic, and health consequences of climate change, less is known about the psychological processes through which climate-affected populations perceive risk and translate these experiences into adaptive and pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). Psychological factors such as self-efficacy and psychological adaptation may play a critical role in shaping behavioural responses to environmental threats.
Purpose: This study examined the associations among climate risk perception, self-efficacy, psychological adaptation, and PEB among adults in Bangladesh, with particular attention to the mediating and moderating roles of self-efficacy and psychological adaptation. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 652 participants aged 18 years and older using standardised measures. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation, mediation, and moderation analyses.
Results: It revealed four key findings. First, risk perception was strongly associated with self-efficacy and moderately associated with psychological adaptation but only weakly related to PEB at the bivariate level. Second, self-efficacy and psychological adaptation were strong predictors of PEB and fully mediated the relationship between risk perception and behaviour, indicating inconsistent mediation. Third, self-efficacy functioned as both a mediator and a moderator: while it transmitted the effect of risk perception on PEB, higher perceived risk was associated with lower PEB at high levels of self-efficacy, suggesting a shift from threat-driven to capability-driven regulation. Fourth, psychological adaptation operated exclusively as a mediator.
Conclusion: Pro-environmental behaviour among climate-affected populations is shaped less by perceived risk and more by perceived capability and psychological preparedness. Interventions should prioritise strengthening self-efficacy and psychological adaptation and integrate mental health considerations into climate adaptation strategies.