Emotions, personality traits, and risk perception as determinants of travelers’ climate change concerns: long-term impact of COVID-19

Abstract

The primacy of climate change as the leading global concern in society has been challenged since the COVID-19 pandemic, with uncertainty persisting due to the scarcity of longitudinal studies. This paper aims to assess how the COVID-19 experience has shaped travelers’ long-term concerns about anthropogenic climate change. To better understand climate concerns, three determining factors were considered: negative emotions, personality traits, and risk perceptions. The study uses self-reported information by a large sample of 6,354 European frequent travelers split into three fieldwork waves: (1) December 2020, during the pandemic, (2) March 2023, after travel restrictions, and (3) June 2024, in the “new normal”. Findings reveal that the explanatory weight of the three determinants has changed because of the pandemic. Negative emotions have a greater effect in explaining concerns after the health crisis, alongside varying effects of personality traits and perceived risks. Results confirm that COVID-19 has led to a greater dominance of climate emotions over personality traits and risk perception in shaping concerns. Findings are useful for policymakers and practitioners, as they can use the results to design more tailored communication and to maintain public engagement with climate change amid competing global crises for attention.