Die Förderung der Klima-Resilienz Studierender im Setting Hochschule – eine qualitative Studie

Background:The climate crisis poses a significant challenge to public health, triggering both physical and psychological stress as well as emotional responses.Young people are particularly affected by negative climaterelated emotions, with university students representing a mentally vulnerable subgroup.This qualitative study aims to develop setting-based recommendations for universities to strengthen students' climate resilience. Methods:As part of a student-led qualitative research project, semi-structured, problem-centered interviews were conducted with students from universities in Berlin.Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Kuckartz's structured content analysis.Results: Participants (n = 14) perceived universities as key settings for promoting climate resilience.They emphasized three institutional roles: as organizations (e.g. through transparent climate communication), as everyday environments (e.g. through sustainable campus design), and as educational spaces (e.g., integration of climate issues into curricula).The student researchers saw themselves as active within the university but sought support by university stakeholders, e.g. through spaces or facilitated exchanges. Conclusion:This peer research identifies potential measures at various structural levels to strengthen student climate resilience.Universities thus have the opportunity to simultaneously support students' mental wellbeing and contribute to broader societal transformation.