Social and Experiential Factors Linked to Concern About Climate Related Health Harm in the U.S.

Abstract Background Public concern that climate change will harm personal health influences individual protective behaviors and shapes support for climate-related health policies. We analyzed a national survey to identify factors associated with expressed concern that climate change will harm one’s health among U.S. adults. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 7; N = 6,888 adults). Analyses examined correlates of perceptions that climate change will harm personal health (any concern vs. no concern/unsure). Results Overall, 65% of U.S. adults expressed concern that climate change will harm their health. After adjustment, high trust in scientific information was associated with a 7-percentage point higher probability of concern. Compared with liberals, moderates and conservatives had 11- and 28-percentage point lower probabilities of expressing concern, respectively. Experiencing extreme weather in one’s neighborhood (+21 points) and worry about outdoor air quality (+19 points) were also strongly associated with concern. Conclusion Concern about the health impacts of climate change is patterned primarily by trust in science, political viewpoint, and environmental attitudes and experiences rather than demographic characteristics. Public health communication should reinforce scientific credibility, engage audiences across political perspectives, and link climate health messages to locally relevant environmental conditions.