Affective Temperaments and Eco-Anxiety Dimensions: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Eco-anxiety is a growing psychological response to climate change, but individual vulnerability factors remain poorly understood. Affective temperaments may contribute to differences in eco-anxiety. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional online study involved 209 Italian adults recruited between May and December 2024. Participants completed the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale and the short version TEMPS-A. Gender differences were assessed using independent-sample t-tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between affective temperaments and eco-anxiety dimensions. Results: Regression models explained 16–22% of variance. Anxious temperament was the most consistent correlate, associating with affective symptoms, rumination, behavioural symptoms, and personal-impact anxiety. Cyclothymic temperament was associated with behavioural symptoms and personal-impact anxiety, but not rumination after correction for multiple testing. Other temperaments showed no significant associations. Females reported higher anxious temperament and personal-impact anxiety. After adjustment for age and gender, associations with personal-impact anxiety did not survive correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: Findings suggest that individual differences in eco-anxiety are associated with affective temperament, although the cross-sectional design and partial overlap between measures call for caution. Considering temperament may improve understanding of psychological responses to climate change and inform future preventive and support strategies.