Risk, values, and efficacy in climate policy participation: A European psychosocial analysis

Climate adaptation is a global imperative whose success relies on both effective policy design and active public participation. Understanding the psychological factors that influence such participation is crucial. This study examines these factors in a European sample using an extended Risk Perception Attitude Framework that incorporates ecocentric values and climate change beliefs to explore how perceptions, values, and beliefs are associated with intentions to participate in climate adaptation policies. Results from structural equation modeling indicate that perceived risk, perceived efficacy, and ecocentric values are significantly associated with these intentions, while climate change beliefs are indirectly associated with them through perceived risk. Among these factors, perceived risk exhibits the strongest association with intentions, followed by ecocentric values, which are inversely related to perceived risk. Together, these relationships contribute to understanding the psychosocial determinants of such intentions in the European population studied and highlight the analytical utility of the framework for examining them. While the findings may offer relevant policy insights and inform decision-making, future research should examine larger and more diverse populations across contexts and incorporate additional latent constructs to further refine understanding of the underlying relationships.