CORRELATION BETWEEN NURSING STUDENTS’ CLIMATE CHANGE KNOWLEDGE, ANXIETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY ATTITUDES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background:
Climate change is a growing public health concern affecting physical and mental health globally. Among nursing students, awareness, anxiety, and attitudes toward sustainability may influence future professional practice in healthcare.

Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 161 nursing students at Shalamar Nursing College, Lahore. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing climate change awareness, climate change anxiety, and sustainability attitudes. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were applied.

Results:
Most participants demonstrated good climate change awareness (49.1%) and high sustainability attitudes (61.5%), while moderate climate change anxiety was most common (67.1%). Significant positive correlations were found between awareness and sustainability attitudes (r = 0.559, p < 0.001), anxiety and awareness (r = 0.384, p < 0.001), and anxiety and sustainability attitudes (r = 0.310, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that climate change awareness significantly predicted sustainability attitudes (p < 0.001), whereas anxiety did not (p = 0.116).

Conclusions:
Climate change awareness is a key determinant of sustainability attitudes among nursing students, while anxiety plays a limited predictive role. Strengthening climate education in nursing curricula may enhance sustainable healthcare attitudes.