Influence of Future Concerns on Personal Change and Personal and Institutional Engagement in the Context of Climate Change

This study investigates the relationship between concern for the future (FC), personal change (PC), personal engagement (PE), and institutional engagement (IE) in the context of climate change. Through a survey of Brazilian university students, yielding 388 valid responses, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis. The results reveal a positive correlation between FC and PC, and between FC and PE, as well as a positive link between PE and IE. Conversely, a negative association between FC and IE was identified. These findings highlight the complex interaction between individual concerns about the future and engagement in climate actions, both at the personal and institutional levels. The study suggests the importance of developing strategies that align individual motivations with institutional actions, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to effectively address climate change.