Media coverage of climate change, eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavior: Experimental evidence and the resilience paradox

Abstract

As a risk amplification station, media coverage affects people's concerns about environmental hazards and mitigation behaviors. Substantial evidence has revealed that media coverage is a crucial predictor of eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors. However, few studies have explored the causal relationship between them and whether the resilience paradox applies to exposure to media coverage of the climate crisis. To examine these questions, we conducted a preregistered experiment (Study 1, N = 284) and a cross-sectional survey (Study 2, N = 507) with Chinese youths online. The results showed that global warming news increased state eco-anxiety and donations to the environmental organization. But there was no significant link between eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavior. The attention to climate change coverage in daily life was positively correlated with eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behavior, and eco-anxiety played a mediating role. Additionally, the resilience paradox could explain individual emotion and behavior in the face of media coverage. Individuals with high resilience felt less eco-anxious but also engaged in fewer pro-environmental behaviors. Findings suggest that we should consider the degree of eco-anxiety and individual differences when using media coverage to increase people's behavioral engagement. Future research should focus on the balance between individual well-being and environmental sustainability.