Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students

Abstract A learner-centred approach to climate change education requires understanding learners’ existing conceptions of climate change. However, limited studies have explored these conceptions among adolescents in the Global South, particularly in Southeast Asia. This study surveyed 4,501 upper-sec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kelvin Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Climate Action
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00245-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849311892052377600
author Kelvin Tang
author_facet Kelvin Tang
author_sort Kelvin Tang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A learner-centred approach to climate change education requires understanding learners’ existing conceptions of climate change. However, limited studies have explored these conceptions among adolescents in the Global South, particularly in Southeast Asia. This study surveyed 4,501 upper-secondary students across four municipalities in Indonesia, examining their cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions of climate change conceptions. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups: the Uncertain (26%), the Learners (46.7%), and the Advocate (27.3%). Multiple linear regression analysis identified past experience, grade levels, religion, ethnicity, and personal values as variables that significantly influence conceptions. The findings indicate lower cognitive conceptions compared to affective and behavioural ones, highlighting the need to strengthen students’ knowledge alongside leveraging their emotions and actions. These insights provide guidance for designing climate change education that fosters holistic engagement and addresses diverse learner profiles, particularly in the context of the Global South.
format Article
id doaj-art-69d9d2af6c65403bba5381a6af375eab
institution Kabale University
issn 2731-9814
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Climate Action
spelling doaj-art-69d9d2af6c65403bba5381a6af375eab2025-08-20T03:53:16ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate Action2731-98142025-05-01411910.1038/s44168-025-00245-2Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary studentsKelvin Tang0Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of TokyoAbstract A learner-centred approach to climate change education requires understanding learners’ existing conceptions of climate change. However, limited studies have explored these conceptions among adolescents in the Global South, particularly in Southeast Asia. This study surveyed 4,501 upper-secondary students across four municipalities in Indonesia, examining their cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions of climate change conceptions. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups: the Uncertain (26%), the Learners (46.7%), and the Advocate (27.3%). Multiple linear regression analysis identified past experience, grade levels, religion, ethnicity, and personal values as variables that significantly influence conceptions. The findings indicate lower cognitive conceptions compared to affective and behavioural ones, highlighting the need to strengthen students’ knowledge alongside leveraging their emotions and actions. These insights provide guidance for designing climate change education that fosters holistic engagement and addresses diverse learner profiles, particularly in the context of the Global South.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00245-2
spellingShingle Kelvin Tang
Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
npj Climate Action
title Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
title_full Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
title_fullStr Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
title_full_unstemmed Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
title_short Conceptions of climate change across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions among adolescents: Insights from Indonesian upper-secondary students
title_sort conceptions of climate change across cognitive affective and behavioural dimensions among adolescents insights from indonesian upper secondary students
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00245-2
work_keys_str_mv AT kelvintang conceptionsofclimatechangeacrosscognitiveaffectiveandbehaviouraldimensionsamongadolescentsinsightsfromindonesianuppersecondarystudents