The Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale: Development and validation of a multidimensional scale

Anxiety relating to a multitude of ecological crises, or eco-anxiety, is subject growing research significance. We used multi-study mixed-methods design explore eco-anxiety in Australia and New Zealand, validating new scale. In Study One, we developed tested 7-item scale (n = 334), finding that this captured some, but not all, experiences eco-anxiety. found people were anxious about range environmental conditions their personal negative impact on the planet. Notably, people’s anxiety different (e.g., climate change, degradation, pollution) interconnected, lending support for existence (a broader construct encompasses change anxiety). These results informed further development Two. Exploratory 365) Confirmatory Factor Analysis 370) supported final 13-item four dimensions eco-anxiety: affective symptoms, rumination, behavioural one’s planet, which each distinct from stress, depression. A longitudinal sample 189) established stability these factors across time. Findings as quantifiable psychological experience, reliably measured using our scale, differentiated mental health outcomes.