Effectiveness of psycho-educational program on climate change distress and risk perception among older adults.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Climate change is a global environmental phenomenon that affects human health. It has a negative impact on the health and well-being of older adults. Therefore, educating older adults about coping with climate change and providing psychological interventions could promote successful aging. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of psycho-educational program on climate change distress and risk perception among older adults. METHODS: A quasi-experimental research design, "pre-test and post-test was followed. The study used the Climate Change Distress, the Impairment Scale, and the Risk Perception Scale. Data were collected from 80 older adults aged 60 years and above at three elderly clubs in Damanhour City, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt. RESULTS: The difference in mean severity of climate change distress, impairment, and risk perception scores between the study and control groups after the psycho-educational program was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Psycho-educational interventions can reduce climate change distress and impairment among older adults and increase their risk perception.