The Relationship Between Pregnant Women's Awareness and Worry About Climate Change and Their Perception of Risk During Pregnancy

Objective: This study examined the relationship between pregnant women’s climate change awareness and worry and their risk perception during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study with a correlational design was conducted between November 2024 and May 2025. The study sample consisted of the pregnant women, with the recorded their trimester. Data were collected using the “Introductory Information Form”, “the Climate Change Awareness Scale”, “the Climate Change Worry Scale”, and “the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Scale”. In the analysis of the data, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting climate change awareness, anxiety, and perceived pregnancy risk. Results: The study included 273 pregnant women selected through quota sampling, with 91 participants from each trimester. The mean climate change awareness score was positively correlated with the total climate change worry score and the helplessness and anxiety subscale scores (p<0.01). A moderate significant correlation was identified between the total score of the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Scale, the subscale scores for perceived risk to the baby and oneself, and the average total scores of “the Climate Change Awareness Scale” and “the Climate Change Worry Scale”. This relationship also involved factors such as previous miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and traumatic life events during pregnancy (p<0.01). Conclusion: Climate change awareness among pregnant women was associated with increased climate change worry, which was significantly related to both general risk perception and perceived risk to the baby. Pregnancy complications and traumatic life experiences were also important factors shaping risk perception.