Climate anxiety moderates the association between perceived direct experiences of climate change & substance use in college students

Objective: This study sought to understand how climate change anxiety may moderate the association between perceived direct experiences with climate change and substance use behaviors in a college student sample. Participants: Undergraduate students (N = 184) at a private, urban university in the United States Mountain West region. Methods: Students self-reported substance use behaviors, perceived direct experiences with climate change, and climate anxiety. Using multiple linear regression, a composited substance use variable was regressed onto perceived direct experience with climate change, with climate anxiety as a moderator. Results: The interaction between perceived direct experience and climate anxiety was associated with riskier substance use (beta = 0.02, standard error = 0.01, t-value = 2.87, p = .005). Conclusions: Should these findings replicate across contexts, college students who experience climate change impacts and heightened climate anxiety may be susceptible to increased substance use.