The resilience paradox: flooding experience, coping and climate change mitigation intentions

Charles A. Ogunbode, Gisela Böhm, Stuart B. Capstick, Christina Demski, Alexa Spence, Nicole Tausch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency, intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather events across the globe and these events are likely to have significant mental health implications. The mental health literature broadly characterises negative emotional reactions to extreme weather experiences as undesirable impacts on wellbeing. Yet, other research in psychology suggests that negative emotional responses to extreme weather are an important motivation for personal action on climate change. This article addresses the intersection of mental health and functional perspectives on negative emotions, with a specific focus on the potential that reduced negative emotional responses to extreme weather may also translate to diminished motivation to undertake climate change mitigation actions–which we term the ‘resilience paradox’. Using survey data gathered in the aftermath of severe flooding across the UK in winter 2013/2014, we present new evidence indicating that self-appraised coping ability moderates the link between flooding experience and negative emotions and thereby attenuates the indirect link between flooding experience and climate change mitigation intentions. We conclude that support for flood victims should extend beyond addressing emotional, physical and financial stresses to include acknowledgement of the involvement of climate change and communication of the need for action to combat future climate risks. Key policy insights Psychological resilience to flooding and other extreme weather events can translate to diminished motivation to mitigate climate change Negative emotional reactions need to occur at an optimal level to enable people to respond appropriately to climate risks. Flood victims’ subjective appraisal of their ability to cope does not necessarily encompass consideration of the role played by climate change. Therefore, support for victims of extreme weather should include explicit acknowledgement of the involvement of climate change and the need for action to mitigate future climate risks.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)703-715
Number of pages13
JournalClimate Policy
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/M005135/1]. This research was supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/M005135/1).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Funding

This work was supported by Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/M005135/1]. This research was supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/M005135/1).

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • extreme weather
  • flooding
  • resilience
  • risk

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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