Worry and hope levels of nursing students about climate change: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Mitigating the health effects of climate change and ensuring social adaptation are considered among the new professional roles of nurses. It would be possible for nurses to manage the psychological reactions experienced in society toward the consequences of climate change only if they can direct their emotions to the right resources. This study aimed to determine nursing students' worry and hope levels about climate change.
METHODS: This cross-sectional design study was conducted with 260 nursing students in Istanbul. Personal Information Form, Climate Change Hope Scale and Climate Change Worry Scale were applied to the participants.
RESULTS: About 46.5% of the students participating in the study know global climate change, 58.5% know the effects of climate change on health, 70% follow the effects of climate change on health on the internet, and 68.1% of the students have no information about the institutions working on the effects of climate change on health. It was found that the participants had a mean of the hope scale score of 42.67±6.09 and a mean score of the worry scale of 33.72±7.83. Those who know climate change and its health effects, those who follow its effects on health, and those who know the institution working in this field have higher scores. A slightly significant correlation was found between the scale scores.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the students who know climate change and its effects on health have higher worry and hope scores. The data can guide nursing students in coping with negative emotions and will contribute to the empowerment of future nurses by helping universities develop nursing curricula in this area.