Towards an understanding of the impact of micro- and macro-manifestations of religiosity on climate change risk perception: a cross-national study

Saunders, Richard, Pomati, Marco ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3370-2709 and Pidgeon, Nick 2026. Towards an understanding of the impact of micro- and macro-manifestations of religiosity on climate change risk perception: a cross-national study. Frontiers in Psychology 17 , 1740305. 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1740305

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Abstract

Introduction: This study examines how religion shapes climate change risk perception at individual and national levels across 28 countries, addressing gaps in cross-national research on religiosity and environmental attitudes. Methods: Using data from the ISSP Environment IV module (2023), we apply multilevel models to assess the effects of religious affiliation, religious practice, and national religious context, including majority religion, proportion of Christians, and national income. Results: Regular attendance at religious services is generally associated with lower climate change risk perception, while religious affiliation shows limited and country-specific effects. At the national level, predominantly Christian, especially Protestant, countries exhibit lower risk perception than Eastern-religious (Buddhism and Hinduism) majority countries. Cross-level interactions reveal an asymmetric role for religion based on national wealth, with religious affiliation influencing risk perception more significantly in lower-income countries. Discussion: The findings indicate that religiosity primarily influences risk perception through practice, while national religious contexts reflect enduring historical and institutional legacies. Evidence also indicates the effects of religiosity are, in part, contingent upon country-level material wealth.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
ISSN:	1664-1078
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 March 2026
Last Modified:	06 Mar 2026 13:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/185565

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