Worry about climate impacts and symptoms of anxiety among Finnish forest owners

Abstract Background Climate change poses a threat to viability of forests. More than half of forest land is owned by private forest owners who face conflicting pressures regarding management of their forests, including producing timber for forest industry, earning a living, providing recreation environments, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. The effects of climate change on forests and demands related to forest management can cause mental pressures among forest owners. Methods We used a cross-sectional private forest owner survey (N = 1224) to examine which factors are associated with worry about the climate change impacts on own forests. We also examined whether distress due to public demands regarding forest management are associated with symptoms of anxiety. We used ordinal logistic regression models including several possible explanatory factors. Results Of the participants 44% were to some extent and 4% very worried about climate change impacts on own forest. Having multiple objectives as a forest owner (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.60-3.77), female gender (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.18-2.29), and having higher education (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.27-3.20 for university education) were associated with worry about the climate change impacts on own forests. Worry about climate change impacts on own forest, distress due to public demands on forest management, or demands to maintain forests as carbon storages were not associated with symptoms of anxiety. However, stress due to invasion of Russia to Ukraine indicated higher likelihood of anxiety symptoms (OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.52-6.10). Conclusions Worry about the climate change impacts on own forests may be partly explained by higher awareness regarding the various possibilities that forests can offer. Such worry could be diluted by providing knowledge about different climate change adaptation solutions in forest management. Mental health support for forest owners at the times of crises should be available. Key messages • Multiple objectives in forest management associated with worry about climate impacts on own forests. • Such worry could be diluted by providing knowledge about adaptation solutions in forest management.