Survey of young people aged 16-25 from all US states shows concerns across political spectrum

Survey of young people aged 16-25 from all US states shows concerns across political spectrum

The overwhelming majority of young Americans worry about the climate crisis, and more than half say their concerns about the environment will affect where they decide to live and whether to have children, new research finds.

The study comes just weeks after back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, pummeled the south-eastern US. Flooding from Helene caused more than 600 miles of destruction, from Florida’s west coast to the mountains of North Carolina, while Milton raked across the Florida peninsula less than two weeks later.

“One of the most striking findings of the survey was that this was across the political spectrum,” said the lead author, Eric Lewandowski, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “There was no state sample where the endorsement of climate anxiety came in less than 75%.”

The study was published in the Lancet Planetary Health, and follows a 2021 study covering 10 countries. Both the previous and current study were paid for by Avaaz, an advocacy group.

    • bassomitron@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      It’s always amazed me that young voters tend to be the most unreliable voting bloc. I was a young, early-20s idealist, and I made sure to go out and vote. Hopefully they step it up this November.

        • pycorax@lemmy.world
          0·
          1 year ago

          And that’s the problem. Why do they need someone to inspire them when they should also be interested and invested in their own future? Can’t say the same thing is happening in my country, generally even the most politically apathetic person at this age range (me included) understands the importance of it but somehow this seems like a wild idea in the US?

          • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
            0·
            1 year ago

            And that’s the problem.

            I agree, it’s a very serious problem that the Democrats continue to push policy that is unpopular with young folks.

            Why do they need someone to inspire them

            Because elections are popularity contests.

            they should also be interested and invested in their own future

            They very clearly are, but there aren’t any American political parties that are invested in their future. Just ones that pretend to cater to them while selling them out to the oil and weapons industries.

            somehow this seems like a wild idea in the US?

            Yeah, it sucks. Any time you start talking about making the future suck less, Republicans start calling you a commie socialist and Democrats kick you out of the group chat.

            • pycorax@lemmy.world
              0·
              1 year ago

              That seems very defeatist though? I mean I get where you’re coming from in that ideally we’d have options which align more with what we want to move towards progress but realistically that’s not something that’s entirely possible right now.

              Right now, there’s an option that pushes progress further back and the other one that seems somewhat neutral by comparison (unfortunately). In that case, wouldn’t picking the lesser evil be better than simply standing by and doing nothing?

        • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          0·
          1 year ago

          Or even worse, people like you who do everything they can to disparage the only party that might possibly do something good…

          You think you’re being sly, but it’s just cringe.

      • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
        0·
        1 year ago

        I think there are voter suppression efforts that target youth. Plus they’re likely struggling to get by and may feel like they can’t spend hours/all day voting.

        • Longing@lemmy.world
          0·
          1 year ago

          There’s also a huge amount of political cynicism. It’s easier to just think that there can be no change, and that my one vote doesn’t matter, and that all politicians are evil. I saw this way too much during my college days.

          • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
            01·
            1 year ago

            It’s true, though. America is not and has never been a Democracy, the only votes that matter are thosr cast in swing counties in a few states.

            • abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world
              1·
              1 year ago

              No. No. Absolutely not no. I don’t care if youre a Democrat in the middle of rural Kansas. Get the fuck out there and vote. This kind of defeatist shit is exactly what lets those locked in areas get away with it. A revolution has to have attendees. Show up. Vote. Even if you feel like you’re voting alone, you’re not.

                • abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  1 year ago

                  As far as I’m concerned she hasn’t won until she’s sworn in. And that’s the approach people need to take. I agree with convincing Democrats to get their shit together, but this thought train of “I’m not even gonna vote, it’s already won/it doesn’t matter” is exactly the kind of shit that gets us in trouble. Get out there and vote. It’s your fucking responsibility as a citizen of this country. Do it.