Linking Perceptions, Emotions, and Actions: How Psychological Distance, Media Framing, and Guilt About Climate Crisis Promote Communication and Pro environmental Behavior

This study explored the impact of psychological distance, media coverage, and guilt on communication behavior and eco-friendly actions and found that environmental interest was a significant predictor of behavior. Women and younger individuals favored face-to-face communication and public transport, while older individuals focused on energy conservation and eco-friendly purchase. Perceptions of climate crisis severity and media coverage influenced communication and eco-friendly purchase. Guilt strongly predicted information seeking and purchase intention, which emphasizes the effectiveness of emotion-based messages. The findings highlighted the need for targeted strategies across demographics and political orientations to promote pro environmental behavior.