TY  - EJOU
AU  - Chen, Xi 
AU  - Lin, Wanru 
AU  - Liu, Yuefu 

TI  - The Chinese Hogg Climate Anxiety Scale (HCAS): Revision and validation integrating classical test theory and network analysis approaches
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 2025
VL  - 35
IS  - 5
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - 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%; <i>M</i> age = 19.60 years, <i>SD</i> = 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 (<i>r</i> = 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.
KW  - climate anxiety; psychometric validation; reliability; measurement invariance; network analysis; Chinese university students

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2025.068787