Climate change physiology and psychology: What can we learn from a lab-based heat exposure experiment with young adults

Abstract

Background Intensive heatwaves are more frequent globally due to changing climate. There is evidence that heat exposure can not only induce acute physiological reactions, but also potentially enhance climate change belief. Theories such as “visceral fit” attempt to explain the phenomenon by proposing that feeling warm physically strengthens the belief in global warming. However, no study has yet drawn the line between physiological and psychological reactions in a lab-based heating environment. Methods Sixty-five healthy freshmen (43 females, 22 males) from Nanjing, China participated the study with 30 dollars as reward for each. Participants stayed in a climate chamber for around 2 hours, during which time temperature in the chamber climbed up from 25℃ to 40℃. Physiological signals including heart rate variability, skin temperature, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation were recorded during the experiment. Self-reported climate change belief and psychological distance of climate change were collected from each participant before, during and after the heat exposure. Physiological and psychological data were integrated to reveal their embedded links. Results Physiological indicators reflecting human body heat stress (such as skin temperature and blood pressure) increase gradually as the chamber got warmer. However, the psychological impact of heat exposure varies between participants a lot. On group average, heat exposure reduces the psychological distance of climate change and enhances the belief, but the effect is not significant enough and disappears immediately after the heat exposure. We are planning to use the individual physiological response and other socio-economic factors to explain the variation in the next stage. Conclusions Our findings so far do not fully support the hypothesis that heat experience increase climate change belief. Many confounding variables together with temperature may lead to the change of climate change perceptions. Taking physiological responses into consideration will enrich our understanding of the mechanism behind.