The psychological impact of climate change: exploring the link between media induced indirect trauma and climate anxiety

As global awareness of climate change increases, its psychological effects particularly those arising from indirect exposure through the media are becoming an increasing source of concern. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between climate anxiety and indirect trauma caused by media exposure to climate change events. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 580 nursing students from various universities in the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. Data were collected via an online survey between December 2024 and January 2025. The study utilized the 'Scale for Indirect Trauma Caused by Media Exposure to Disasters (SITMED)' and the "Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS)", both of which have been validated for the Turkish population. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. The mean total score of SITMED was 2.85 ± 0.77, and for the mean total score of the CCAS 1.75 ± 0.72. A moderate positive correlation was found between media exposure to climate change events and climate change anxiety (<i>r</i> = .396, <i>p</i> = 0.000). Additionally, SITMED scores explained 15.7% of the variance in climate anxiety levels (R² = 0.157, <i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating that media exposure plays a role in shaping climate anxiety but is not the sole determinant. In the fight against climate change, it is essential to consider its mental effects and to develop comprehensive strategies for increasing individuals' mental resilience. It is recommended that solution-oriented content be presented instead of crisis-focused narratives in the media. It is recommended to integrate courses on planetary health, environmental health, and climate change should be integrated into the nursing curriculum. In this way, future nurses will be equipped to evaluate and address the effects of climate change in patient care.