Inspired by the participatory action research approach, this project aims to empower community transformative change by understanding environmental pollution-induced anxiety mechanisms and paths to resilient response. To achieve this, we will (I) conduct a survey in communities residing in close proximity to polluting industrial establishments in northern and southern Klaipėda districts located in the western part of Lithuania and (II) conduct a series of discussion and co-creation sessions with communities and relevant stakeholders before and after the quantitative study. Quantitative research (survey) is designed to identify the prevalence of general anxiety, anxiety about environmental degradation, and pollution-induced anxiety in the affected communities. Next, we will explore the mechanisms via which pollution-induced anxiety (de)motivates (non)resilient response (e.g. taking action vs stagnating). We will analyze the links of personal, interpersonal, sociodemographic, and spatial (proximity to establishments) factors with pollution-induced anxiety and(non)resilient response. In interactive sessions with communities, we will discuss the content of the measurement instrument to meet their advocacy needs. We will also co-create possible scenarios for resilient responses and explore further prospects for using research data to strengthen their case and attract policymakers’ attention to community issues. The transformative potential of this project lies within the synergy between researchers’ engagement that started outside the limits of the proposed project and the community’s inspiring efforts to tackle the injustices they face. The research will provide unique applied knowledge and insights relevant to local and international communities facing similar issues. Knowledge of the prevalence of anxiety measured at various construal levels as well as its relationship to (non)resilient community response will expand theory as well as inform decisions of policymakers, community advisors, mental health professionals, and alike.
Project funding:
Research Council of Lithuania, Projects of Postdoctoral fellowships funded by the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania
Project results:
The results of the project and their dissemination are organised according to the expected academic and social impact.
Academic impact:
U3.1 Presentations at scientific conferences. Four conference papers will be prepared and presented at international conferences.
U3.2 Manuscripts of scientific articles prepared and submitted. Two manuscripts will be prepared and submitted to peer-reviewed journals with an Impact Factor (IF) and considered as top journals in environmental sociology and environmental psychology.
U3.3 An electronic open access survey dataset was developed and published. Data on the mental health situation in relation to environmental issues is much needed by policy makers, practitioners and experts worldwide. The dataset will therefore be made available on an open access platform at the Lithuanian Social Sciences and Humanities Data Archive (LiDA), in the Environmental Attitudes and Behaviour Surveys data collection. This will further improve the dissemination of the project results and increase the visibility of the project in expert communities and enable them to use the data for international comparisons, secondary data analysis, meta-analyses, etc.
Social impact
U3.4 Publication of the main results of the survey. The publication of the main survey results is aimed at non-specialists such as policy makers, mental health professionals, communities, etc., written in an easy-to-understand style, and contains the main descriptive results of the survey.
U3.5 Publication of a summary for policy makers. This impact-oriented publication will include key research findings and recommendations. It will provide information for a range of audiences, including communities, local and national policy makers, journalists and other stakeholders interested in the application of the project results.
U3.6 Science dissemination articles and media promotion. Two science dissemination pieces will be produced and disseminated through Klaipėda (local) and national news portals, television or radio, in the form of articles or expert commentaries.
U3.7 Online presence. This includes dissemination on the KTU institutional website, where a project page will be created and information about the project will be published.
U3.8 Organisation of a national event/seminar. The final event of the project will be organised for stakeholders in the Klaipėda region, including communities, industry, the public, policy makers and municipal representatives, and academia.
Period of project implementation: 2024-11-04 - 2026-11-03
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
