RESUMEN:

Climate change (CC) has become an undeniable reality, with increasingly frequent consequences that extend to individuals’ psychological well-being. The ways in which CC is portrayed in the media – particularly on social media – contribute to the emergence of eco-anxiety and eco-worry, especially among emerging adults, a population in significant developmental and life transitions. 

Within the psychological impact of CC, coping strategies play a central role, as they shape how individuals process climate-related information and manage the associated stress. Given the literature gap on this topic, the present study investigates the relationship between climate change information exposure (CCIE) and eco-worry, examining the moderating roles of problem-centered coping, meaning-centered coping, and de-emphasizing/avoidant coping. Furthermore, the study explores the source and perceived quality of CC information. 

The study involved 642 Italian emerging adults aged between 18 and 30 years (M = 22.84, SD = 3.06), who were recruited through snowball sampling using a cross-sectional research design. 

Social media emerged as the primary source of CC information and were associated with greater negative emotional responses and higher levels of eco-worry compared with traditional media. Furthermore, CCIE was generally perceived as broad and lacking in depth. Moderation analyses revealed that both problem-centered coping and meaning-centered coping buffered the association between CCIE and eco-worry, acting as protective factors. In contrast, de-emphasizing/avoidant coping strengthened this association, suggesting its role as a risk factor. 

These results highlight the need for further investigation into the psychological impact of CCIE in order to support the development and implementation of targeted psychoeducational interventions. 

Palabras clave: Climate Change; Media Information Exposure; Ecoworry; Coping Strategies; Emerging Adults.