The effects of perceived climate change threat and efficacy on pro-environmental behavior: The mediating role of climate anxiety

The threat of climate change induces climate anxiety among individuals. Responses to climate anxiety may manifest either as avoidant reactions to environmental issues or as pro-environmental behaviors. Although previous studies have examined the relationship between perceptions of climate change and pro-environmental behavior, research that investigates this relationship with climate anxiety as a mediating variable remains limited. Accordingly, this study applies the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) to analyze the indirect association through which perceived threats of climate change and perceived efficacy lead to pro-environmental behavior via climate anxiety. This study utilized data from 3,040 adults aged between 19 and 69 who participated in the 2024 National Environmental Awareness Survey. The relationships among key variables were examined using a path analysis. The results indicated that perceived threats of climate change and environmental efficacy significantly predicted pro-environmental behavior. In particular, perceived efficacy had a greater impact on pro-environmental behavior than did perceived threat. Furthermore, both perceived threats of climate change and perceived efficacy significantly predicted pro-environmental behavior through the mediating effect of climate anxiety. The findings also confirmed that when both perceived threat and perceived efficacy are high, the danger control process of the Extended Parallel Process Model is activated. Based on these results, this study presents practical implications for promoting pro-environmental behavior.