Young people’s coping strategies concerning climate change : Relations to perceived communication with parents and friends and pro-environmental behavior

Taking its departure in the transactional theory of coping and socialization theories this questionnaire study investigates how coping with climate change among late adolescents (N=705) relates to pro-environmental behavior and communication with significant others about societal problems. De-emphasizing the problem was negatively associated with pro-environmental behavior, while problem-focused and meaning-focused coping were positively associated with pro-environmental behavior. Two communication patterns with fathers, mothers, and friends were identified: One solution oriented and supportive and one dismissive and doom-and-gloom oriented. The positive patterns correlated positively with problem-focused and meaning-focused coping, whereas the negative patterns correlated positively with de-emphasizing. Communication with fathers was particularly important in explaining de-emphasizing and problem-focused coping. A SEM-analysis showed that coping mediates the effects of communication patterns on behavior, while problem-focused coping mediates the other coping strategies’ influence on behavior. The study demonstrates the importance of considering coping as a factor in the socialization of pro-environmental behavior