Generational Differences in Climate Anxiety Symptoms Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Hungary

A growing number of young people now perceive climate change as an existential threat rather than a distant environmental issue. This study investigates the relationship between environmental awareness and symptoms of climate anxiety among two generational groups— Generation Z (aged 28–29) and Generation Alpha (aged 14–15)—residing in Budapest. Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire, distributed between January and March 2025 through targeted social media groups (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook). Screening questions ensured the inclusion of only respondents belonging to the specified age brackets. The survey measured environmental knowledge and behaviours, the presence of psychological and physical symptoms of climate anxiety, and demographic characteristics. A total of 701 valid responses were obtained. Four hypotheses were tested using non-parametric statistical analyses, primarily Spearman’s rank correlation and Mann–Whitney U tests. All statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS software version 27, and selected calculations were cross-validated using the WolframAlpha analytics tool. The results revealed a weak but statistically significant negative association between environmental engagement and feelings of helplessness among young adult males. Sex-based comparisons indicated significantly higher levels of anxiety and irritability among female respondents, while males reported greater nervousness. No statistically significant difference was found between generations regarding the frequency of sleep disorders in women, nor in guilt as a climate anxiety symptom among males. The findings suggest that climate anxiety is a multidimensional psychological phenomenon shaped by environmental attitudes, generational context, and sex. While greater awareness may promote responsible behaviour, it may also heighten emotional vulnerability. These results underscore the importance of age-and sex-sensitive approaches when addressing the psychological impact of the climate crisis among youth. A growing number of young people today perceive climate change as an existential threat rather than a distant environmental issue. This study investigates the relationship between environmental awareness and symptoms of climate anxiety among two generational groups – Generation Z (aged 28–29) and Generation Alpha (aged 14–15) – living in Budapest. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire completed by 701 participants between January and March 2025. The survey included items on environmental knowledge and behaviours, symptoms associated with climate anxiety (both psychological and physical), and demographic characteristics. Four hypotheses were tested using Spearman’s rank correlation and Mann–Whitney U tests. calculations were cross-validated using the WolframAlpha analytics tool. The findings revealed a weak but statistically significant negative association between environmental engagement and feelings of helplessness among young adult males. Sex-based comparisons indicated that female respondents experienced significantly higher levels of anxiety and irritability, while males reported greater levels of nervousness. No statistically significant difference was found between generations regarding the frequency of sleep disorders in women. Similarly, no generational difference emerged among male respondents concerning the frequency of guilt as a climate anxiety symptom. The results suggest that climate anxiety is a multidimensional psychological phenomenon shaped by environmental attitudes, generational context, and sex. While greater awareness may promote responsible behaviour, it may also heighten emotional vulnerability. These findings underscore the importance of age-and sex-sensitive approaches in addressing the psychological impact of the climate crisis among youth.