Difference in perception and emotional response to climate change between male and female teenagers in the Colombo education zone, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly recognised as a factor influencing the psychological well-being of adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Gender may moderate adolescents’ emotional responses to climate threats, yet data from South Asia remain limited. This cross-sectional study assessed climate change-related perceptions, anxiety, and emotional responses among 395 adolescents aged 13–17 in two government schools (one all-girls and one all-boys) in the Colombo Education Zone, Sri Lanka. A structured, self-administered questionnaire measured awareness, subjective understanding, anxiety, anger, and influencing contextual factors. The mean age of participants was 15.2 years (SD = 1.4), with 60.8% identifying as female. Female adolescents demonstrated significantly higher levels of climate change-related anxiety (χ² = 21.84, p < 0.001) and self-reported understanding of climate change impacts (χ² = 15.84, p < 0.001) compared to males. Anxiety was also significantly associated with increased awareness (χ² = 19.08, p = 0.0001), parental discussion (χ² = 28.98, p < 0.0001), and knowing someone affected by climate-related adversity (χ² = 4.58, p = 0.032). Emotional responses such as anger were not significantly associated with gender (χ² = 2.33, p = 0.126). Notably, 86% of participants expressed concern about the health consequences of climate change, while only 31.6% believed adequate national efforts were in place to address the issue. Gender emerged as a significant determinant of climate change-related anxiety among adolescents in Sri Lanka, with females showing greater emotional impact. Findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive mental health strategies, improved climate education, and enhanced intergenerational dialogue to help adolescents navigate emotional responses to the climate crisis.