Britt Wray

All Publications

• Climate emotions, thoughts, and plans among US adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional descriptive survey and analysis by political party identification and self-reported exposure to severe weather events. The Lancet. Planetary health Lewandowski, R. E., Clayton, S. D., Olbrich, L., Sakshaug, J. W., Wray, B., Schwartz, S. E., Augustinavicius, J., Howe, P. D., Parnes, M., Wright, S., Carpenter, C., Wiśniowski, A., Ruiz, D. P., Van Susteren, L. 2024

  Abstract

  Climate change has adverse effects on youth mental health and wellbeing, but limited large-scale data exist globally or in the USA. Understanding the patterns and consequences of climate-related distress among US youth can inform necessary responses at the individual, community, and policy level.A cross-sectional descriptive online survey was done of US youth aged 16-25 years from all 50 states and Washington, DC, between July 20 and Nov 7, 2023, via the Cint digital survey marketplace. The survey assessed: climate-related emotions and thoughts, including indicators of mental health; relational aspects of climate-related emotions; beliefs about who or what has responsibility for causing and responding to climate change; desired and planned actions in response to climate change; and emotions and thoughts about the US Government response to climate change. Respondents were asked whether they had been affected by various severe weather events linked to climate change and for their political party identification. Sample percentages were weighted according to 2022 US census age, sex, and race estimates. To test the effects of political party identification and self-reported exposure to severe weather events on climate-related thoughts and beliefs we used linear and logistic regression models, which included terms for political party identification, the number of self-reported severe weather event types in respondents' area of residence in the past year, and demographic control variables.We evaluated survey responses from 15 793 individuals (weighted proportions: 80·5% aged 18-25 years and 19·5% aged 16-17 years; 48·8% female and 51·2% male). Overall, 85·0% of respondents endorsed being at least moderately worried, and 57·9% very or extremely worried, about climate change and its impacts on people and the planet. 42·8% indicated an impact of climate change on self-reported mental health, and 38·3% indicated that their feelings about climate change negatively affect their daily life. Respondents reported negative thoughts about the future due to climate change and actions planned in response, including being likely to vote for political candidates who support aggressive climate policy (72·8%). In regression models, self-reported exposure to more types of severe weather events was significantly associated with stronger endorsement of climate-related distress and desire and plans for action. Political party identification as Democrat or as Independent or Other (vs Republican) was also significantly associated with stronger endorsement of distress and desire and plans for action, although a majority of self-identified Republicans reported at least moderate distress. For all survey outcomes assessed in the models, the effect of experiencing more types of severe weather events did not significantly differ by political party identification.Climate change is causing widespread distress among US youth and affecting their beliefs and plans for the future. These effects may intensify, across the political spectrum, as exposure to climate-related severe weather events increases.Avaaz Foundation.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00229-8

  View details for PubMedID 39427673

• Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review. Npj mental health research Xue, S., Massazza, A., Akhter-Khan, S. C., Wray, B., Husain, M. I., Lawrance, E. L. 2024; 3 (1): 10

  Abstract

  The evidence on the impacts of climate change on mental health and wellbeing is growing rapidly. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of existing mental health and psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change. A scoping review methodology was followed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 2022. Comprehensive gray literature search, including expert consultation, was conducted to identify interventions for which peer-reviewed academic literature may not yet be available. Data on intervention type, setting, climate stressor, mental health outcome, evaluation, and any other available details were extracted, and results were summarized narratively. Academic literature search identified 16 records and gray literature search identified a further 24 records. Altogether, 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions were identified. The interventions act at the levels of microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem through diverse mechanisms. While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, promising preliminary results support interventions in low- and middle-income-country settings disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Interventions from multidisciplinary fields are emerging to reduce psychological distress and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change. This scoping review details existing evidence on the interventions and summarizes intervention gaps and lessons learned to inform continued intervention development and scale-up interventions.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s44184-024-00054-1

  View details for PubMedID 38609540

• A Call to Action for Gender Equity in Climate Leadership. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Wray, B., Veidis, E. M., Flores, E. C., Phillips, A. A., Alani, O., Barry, M. 2023

  Abstract

  Climate action is not advancing quickly enough to prevent catastrophic harm. Understanding why might require looking at existing leadership structures and the inequitable gender representation therein. Critically examining dominant power structures could pave the way toward more comprehensive, innovative, and expedient environmental solutions-and we argue that elevating women's climate leadership is key to safeguarding planetary health. Women have historically been left out of climate science and governance leadership. Women are disproportionately impacted by the health effects of climate change, particularly in Indigenous and low- and middle-income settings. Therefore, our call for women's climate leadership is both an issue of justice and a matter of effectiveness, given evidence that inclusive leadership rooted in gender justice leads to more equitable outcomes. Here, we present evidence for why gender equity in climate leadership matters along with considerations for how to attain it across sectors and stakeholders.

  View details for DOI 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0674

  View details for PubMedID 37127272

• Psychological and Emotional Responses to Climate Change among Young People Worldwide: Differences Associated with Gender, Age, and Country SUSTAINABILITY Clayton, S. D., Pihkala, P., Wray, B., Marks, E. 2023; 15 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.3390/su15043540

  View details for Web of Science ID 000941416600001

• Investigating the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change in Youth: Design and Implementation of the International Changing Worlds Study challenges Vercammen, A., Yatirajula, S., Daniel, M., Maharaj, S., Campbell, M., Greaves, N., Guinto, R., Aruta, J., Penamante, C., Wray, B., Lawrance, E. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.3390/challe14030034

• Embracing climate emotions to advance higher education Nature Climate Change Pellitier, P., Ng, M., Castaneda, S., Moser, S., Wray, B. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41558-023-01838-7

• Climate Change and Global Health: A Call to more Research and more Action. Allergy Agache, I., Sampath, V., Aguilera, J., Akdis, C., Akdis, M., Barry, M., Bouagnon, A., Chinthrajah, S., Collins, W., Dulitzki, C., Erny, B., Gomez, J., Goshua, A., Jutel, M., Kizer, K. W., Kline, O., LaBeaud, A. D., Pali-Scholl, I., Perrett, K. P., Peters, R. L., Plaza, M. P., Prunicki, M., Sack, T., Salas, R. N., Sindher, S. B., Sokolow, S. H., Thiel, C., Veidis, E., Wray, B. D., Traidl-Hoffmann, C., Witt, C., Nadeau, K. C. 1800

  Abstract

  There is increasing understanding, globally, that climate change and increased pollution will have a profound and mostly harmful effect on human health. This review brings together international experts to describe both the direct (such as heat waves) and indirect (such as vector-borne disease incidence) health impacts of climate change. These impacts vary depending on vulnerability (i.e., existing diseases) and the international, economic, political and environmental context. This unique review also expands on these issues to address a third category of potential longer-term impacts on global health: famine, population dislocation, and environmental justice and education. This scholarly resource explores these issues fully, linking them to global health in urban and rural settings in developed and developing countries. The review finishes with a practical discussion of action that health professionals around the world in our field can yet take.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/all.15229

  View details for PubMedID 35073410

• Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. The Lancet. Planetary health Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, R. E., Mayall, E. E., Wray, B., Mellor, C., van Susteren, L. 2021; 5 (12): e863-e873

  Abstract

  Climate change has important implications for the health and futures of children and young people, yet they have little power to limit its harm, making them vulnerable to climate anxiety. This is the first large-scale investigation of climate anxiety in children and young people globally and its relationship with perceived government response.We surveyed 10 000 children and young people (aged 16-25 years) in ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA; 1000 participants per country). Invitations to complete the survey were sent via the platform Kantar between May 18 and June 7, 2021. Data were collected on participants' thoughts and feelings about climate change, and government responses to climate change. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each aspect of climate anxiety, and Pearson's correlation analysis was done to evaluate whether climate-related distress, functioning, and negative beliefs about climate change were linked to thoughts and feelings about government response.Respondents across all countries were worried about climate change (59% were very or extremely worried and 84% were at least moderately worried). More than 50% reported each of the following emotions: sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty. More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet). Respondents rated governmental responses to climate change negatively and reported greater feelings of betrayal than of reassurance. Climate anxiety and distress were correlated with perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal.Climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses are widespread in children and young people in countries across the world and impact their daily functioning. A perceived failure by governments to respond to the climate crisis is associated with increased distress. There is an urgent need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on children and young people and for governments to validate their distress by taking urgent action on climate change.AVAAZ.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3

  View details for PubMedID 34895496

• Emotion, affect and participation Routledge Handbook of Art, Science, and Technology Studies Wray, B. Routledge. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.4324/9780429437069