Adaptation of the eco-anxiety scale to adult Portuguese native speakers: a validity and reliability study

Eco-anxiety is a multidimensional construct that includes emotional, behavioral and cognitive manifestations related to potential environmental calamities. There is a need to adapt and validate measures that evaluate eco-anxiety into Portuguese using a multi-trait approach. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) in adult Portuguese speakers (18–83 years old). Data were collected on the Portuguese adaptation of the HEAS, environmental identity and psychological symptoms, and sociodemographic data. The construct validity of the HEAS was subsequently examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The factorial structure of the original scale was the best explanation of the sample data. The scale showed good internal consistency and presented measurement invariance for both sex and age groups. The global score of the HEAS and the dimensions of emotional and behavioral symptoms were moderately associated with clinical symptoms. Females and younger participants presented higher levels of eco-anxiety apart from rumination symptoms. The results suggest the suitability of the HEAS as a valid measure to evaluate the different signs of eco-anxiety among adult Portuguese native speakers.