International Journal of Emerging Trends in Management

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): International Journal of Emerging Trends in Management
Original reseach article

Managing Climate Anxiety Through Sustainable Engagement: A Network Analysis

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  • Haoyuan Yang,
  • Yanxiong Wu,
  • Luxi Li
Haoyuan Yang
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad, Serbia
Yanxiong Wu
Rural Revitalization Academy of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Luxi Li
School of Data Science, Zhejiang University Of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China

Published 29.05.2025

Keywords

  • climate anxiety,
  • sustainability management,
  • organizational well-being,
  • network analysis,
  • pro-environmental behavior

Copyright (c) 2026 Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Emerging Trends in Management

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How to Cite

Managing Climate Anxiety Through Sustainable Engagement: A Network Analysis. (2025). International Journal of Emerging Trends in Management, 2(2), 76-89. https://doi.org/10.65984/ETM2.2.3

Abstract

Climate change anxiety has implications not only for environmental psychology but also for sustainability management, organizational well-being, and stakeholder engagement. Managers and educators increasingly need to support climate action without intensifying unmanaged distress. This study examines climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior as interconnected components of a climate-response system. A theory-guided EBICglasso network was estimated on a complete-case sample (N = 291), including generalized anxiety, climate conspiracy beliefs, self-assessed climate understanding, knowledge of climate science, pro-environmental orientation, lived climate impacts, nature readiness, five mindfulness facets, pro-environmental behavior, and climate change anxiety. Climate change anxiety was directly anchored in generalized anxiety and lived climate impacts, with a smaller negative edge from climate science knowledge. Pro-environmental behavior was most directly linked to nature readiness and self-assessed climate understanding. Mindfulness facets did not directly connect with climate change anxiety, but awareness and non-judging were negatively linked to generalized anxiety. The findings suggest that climate concern, psychological vulnerability, and environmental action should not be managed as a single linear process. Sustainability management should combine actionable knowledge, recognition of lived climate impacts, nature-based readiness, and regulatory support.

 

Article history: Received (May 29, 2026); Revised (June 04, 2026); Accepted (June 28, 2026); Published online (June 29, 2026)

 

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