Climate change response profiles and digital behavior: cluster-based insights from Spanish young adults

This study aimed to identify individual climate change response profiles among Spanish emerging adults using a person-centered approach. Based on a sample of 607 participants aged 18 to 29, k-means clustering was applied to standardized variables including climate change concern, responsibility, anxiety, psychological distancing, and climate-related behaviors. Two distinct profiles emerged: a “Detached and Unaffected” group and a “Concerned and Affected” group. These profiles differed significantly in emotional engagement, behavioral commitment, and psychological impact. Sociodemographic characteristics, political orientation, and digital behavior also varied across groups. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that higher levels of problematic Internet use and information avoidance were associated with increased odds of belonging to the “Concerned and Affected” cluster, while greater attention to climate change information was linked to a lower likelihood of membership in this group. The results highlight how individual differences in media use and information coping are associated with distinct responses to climate change.