Date of Award
Summer 7-16-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Tara Heagele
Second Advisor
William Samuels
Third Advisor
Jessica Varghese
Academic Program Adviser
Elizabeth Capezuti
Abstract
Background: Climate anxiety, the emotional distress associated with awareness of climate change and its consequences, is an emerging mental health concern that may influence how nurses perceive and respond to climate-related health risks. Climate change is largely driven by emissions of greenhouse gases which radiate and absorb heat. Human-caused climate change is leading to higher average global temperatures and increasing risk to health through poor air quality, changes in vector borne diseases, extreme weather events, and exacerbation and development of physical and mental illnesses. This study contributes to nursing science by examining climate anxiety and climate related health practices among nursing professionals in New York State.
Objectives: Guided by the I-Change model and using a three-manuscript approach, this dissertation explores climate anxiety and nurses’ awareness, motivation, and behaviors in addressing climate-related health risks in New York State.
Methods: The first manuscript is a scoping review exploring the concept of “climate anxiety” in nursing literature. The second manuscript describes the results of a quantitative, cross-sectional, electronic survey measuring the levels of climate anxiety among nursing students, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses in New York State. Using the same sample and design from manuscript two, the third manuscript describes climate related awareness, motivation, and behavior of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses in New York State.
Results: The scoping review includes 34 English language sources published between 2017 and 2025. The majority of sources were international, cross-sectional studies examining the levels of climate anxiety among nursing students. Five key themes emerged: high-risk groups, risk assessment and interventions, promoting resilience, nursing curriculum and education, and the role of nurses in practice and as part of healthcare systems. The climate anxiety survey was completed by 305 New York State nursing professionals with the highest scores found in the Affective and Personal Impact dimensions. Finally, the climate practices survey was completed by 261 nursing professionals. Worsening allergy season, air pollution, and worsening poverty were identified as the top climate related health concerns. Only 23.5% reported discussing climate change and health with their patients, with clinical encounter time and knowledge gaps identified as the top barriers. Resources requested by participants include brief information sheets, patient education materials, and online learning modules.
Conclusions: This work reveals the level of climate anxiety among New York nursing students and nurses and examines nursing professionals’ climate change and health practices. This research adds necessary quantitative evidence about clinical barriers and resources needed to support patient education. Climate change is a compounding threat that already affects patients, and nurses across New York State reported recognizing the impact. Building on motivation from climate anxiety and connecting nurses with climate change and health resources can empower the profession to address pre-existing conditions, social determinants of health, and regional climate considerations to address climate change and health with their patient populations.
Recommended Citation
Kaplan, Sarah, "CLIMATE ANXIETY AND NURSES’ AWARENESS, MOTIVATION, AND BEHAVIORS IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE-RELATED HEALTH RISKS" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1568
