Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Kappan, Elsa; Thiagarajan, Vijayalaya Srinivas Title A name given to the resource The role of psychological capital in shaping climate anxiety across generations Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Discover public health;Volume;23;Issue;1;Article No.;251; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01580-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01580-3</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030993046?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030993046?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Kappan E., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Thiagarajan V.S., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India Description An account of the resource Background: Climate change has transitioned from a distant environmental issue to an immediate psychological reality that profoundly affects how individuals perceive their future and well-being. This study investigates generational differences in climate anxiety and examines the role of psychological capital (PsyCap) as a potential protective resource through the lens of Environmental Identity Theory (EIT). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 participants in Kerala, India, comprising Generation X (33.6%), Millennials (29.9%), and Generation Z (36.5%). Climate anxiety was measured using the Climate Anxiety Scale (Clayton &amp; Karazsia, 2020), and PsyCap was assessed through the PCQ-12, encompassing hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and multiple regression, with effect sizes and confidence intervals reported. Results: Significant generational differences emerged for both cognitiveemotional impairment (F(2,381) = 3.83, p =.023) and functional impairment (F(2,381) = 6.15, p =.002). Gen Z reported significantly higher anxiety levels than Millennials (p =.045, d = ? 0.29*) and Gen X (p =.011, d = ? 0.35*). Regression analyses indicated that PsyCap and generation jointly predicted cognitiveemotional (R = 0.04, p =.008) and functional impairments (R = 0.056, p =.001), with self-efficacy emerging as a significant negatively associated with functional impairment (B = ? 0.12, p =.043). Conclusion: Gen Z experiences greater emotional and functional impacts of climate anxiety compared to older cohorts, while self-efficacy offers a modest buffering effect for functional impairment. These findings underscore the need for interventions that strengthen psychological resources and adaptive coping to mitigate climate-related distress among younger populations. The Author(s) 2026. Subject The topic of the resource Climate anxiety; Environmental identity theory; Generational differences; Psychological capital; Resilience; Self-efficacy Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available BioMed Central Ltd Relation A related resource ISSN: 30050774; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Open Access; Gold Open Access Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online