Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between current levels of climate change anxiety (CCA) observed by American university students and long-term decision-making processes like where to live, work, or raise a family.


Participants: College and university students (n = 389) across the United States were sampled using an online survey that was disseminated between January and April 2024. Students of undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. levels participated in the study. The average age of participants was 21.39 years of age with a standard deviation (SD) of +/- 3.78.


Methods: Participants completed an online cross-sectional five-part survey that consisted of the following sections: (1) Assessment of Understanding, (2) General [Demographic] Information, (3) Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), (4) Reflection on the CCAS, (5) Long-Term decision-making. The survey featured the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), developed by Clayton & Karazsia (2020), to assess student's current levels of CCA and a set of eight questions, developed for use in this study, that focused on long-term decision-making processes.


Results: The average CCAS score for a student participating in this study was 27.95 (𝑀 = 27. 95) with a standard deviation of 𝑆𝐷 = 9. 94. Linear regressions of the relationship between CCAS score and coded answers to the eight long-term decision-making questions revealed a positive linear relationship between CASS score and considerations of CCA in long-term decision-making processes.


Conclusions: The data presented in this study indicates that, of the sample studied, university students within the United States who have higher CCAS scores, marking a greater degree of CCA, had a higher percentage of "Yes" answers to long-term decision scores, indicating CCA or climate change issues are considerations in future life plans, creating social, political, and economic implications for the years to come. This finding is aligned with the findings of similar topical studies.