Open Access

ARTICLE

The Chinese Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale (HCAS): Revision and validation integrating classical test theory and network analysis approaches

Xi Chen^1,3, Wanru Lin¹, Yuefu Liu^2,*

1 School of Educational Sciences, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041, China
2 School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041, China
3 School of Education and Psychology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, China

* Corresponding Author: Yuefu Liu. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(5), 661-669. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.068787

Received 06 June 2025; Accepted 05 September 2025; Issue published 24 October 2025

Abstract

Accurate assessment of climate anxiety is crucial, yet the cross-cultural transportability of existing instruments remains an open question. This study translated and validated the Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale for the Chinese context. A total of 959 students (females = 69.7%; M age = 19.60 years, SD = 1.40 years) completed the Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale, with the Climate Change Anxiety Scale and the Anxiety Presence Subscale served as criterion measures for concurrent validity. Test–retest reliability was evaluated with a subset after one month. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original four-factor structure and measurement invariance across genders. Utilizing classical test theory and network analysis, the Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale demonstrated high internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = 0.936), acceptable test–retest reliability (r = 0.716), and solid convergent and discriminant validity. Total scores were significantly correlated with climate change anxiety and presence of anxiety, and the Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale scores showed superior predictive validity of anxiety presence over the Climate Change Anxiety Scale. Network analysis confirmed the scale’s structural stability and highlighted central symptoms. Overall, the Chinese Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale appears to yield reliable and valid scores for assessing climate anxiety in Chinese university students.

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Keywords

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