Using the information-motivation-behavioral skills model for targeting older adults’ climate change management practices: in the road of COP27

Abstract

BackgroundClimate change is a rapidly evolving public health problem warranting global attention in the 21st century. The World Health Organization declared that climate illiteracy is highly prevalent among older adults, especially in lower- and middle-income nations. AimTo determine the effect of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model-based intervention for climate change management practices among older adults. DesignA quasi-experimental employed a pre-posttest, two-group research design. ParticipantsThe studied sample comprised 80 older adults (aged 60 years and above), assigned to study and control groups (n = 40 each) after completing a baseline survey of six validated measures. ResultsThe study group of proposed intervention based on IMB model demonstrated significant improvement in the mean scores of information (98.62 ± 3.56), motivation (90.14 ± 3.02), actual skills (84.13 ± 8.76), and practices (85.80 ± 3.94), p = 0.001. ConclusionThe intervention based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model has demonstrated credible feasibility in significantly improving the climate change-related information, motivation, skills, and management practices of older adults immediately after the posttest. It should be emphasized that this improvement showed a significant decline at the six-week mark; albeit the study participants’ scores remained significantly higher than their pre-test values, there is clearly a need for reinforcement to maintain positive outcomes over the long term. The existing outcomes call for replication of this intervention in other cohorts, such as uneducated older adults and those residing in assisted-living facilities.