Current Topic in Developing World: Are Early Adolescents Aware of Climate Change?

Climate change is recognized by the World Economic Forum as one of the top ten global crises. Existing scales measure awareness in adults, but there is no scale specifically developed for early adolescents. To address this gap, the "Early Adolescent Climate Change Awareness Scale" (EACCAS) was developed. The study targeted individuals aged 10–14 in Edirne, Türkiye (N = 7133, 25 schools). A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used to select (n=897, 6 schools). A 43-item pool was generated based on literature and educational materials, and content validity was evaluated by nine experts. Feedback from a pilot study involving 21 students was used to refine the items. Data collection proceeded after obtaining ethical approvals. Structural validity was assessed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on two equal subsamples, while convergent and discriminant validity were tested. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 22 and R Studio’s “lavaan” and “semTools” packages. The final scale consisted of 15 items across three subdimensions—causes, consequences, and measures—explaining 65.53% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.92, and model fit indices indicated a good fit (CMIN/DF = 2.176, RMSEA = 0.051, CFI = 0.968, TLI= 0.961, SRMR= 0.041). The scale, scored on a 5-point Likert system (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), provides a range of 15–75 points. Higher scores indicate greater awareness. This scale is recommended for application in diverse populations following cultural adaptations.