PhD position in the CLIMAnX NEXUS "Experienced or Anticipated Climate Change and Mental Health:[...]

Universite de Montpellier; Montpellier; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An innovative research opportunity awaits you at a prestigious institution in Montpellier. This role focuses on exploring the complex relationship between environmental risks and eco-anxiety, aiming to enhance societal understanding and inform public policies. As part of a dynamic team of PhD students, you will engage in groundbreaking research that not only deepens your expertise but also contributes to vital societal discussions. This position offers a unique chance to develop your skills in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, making a significant impact on how we perceive and address environmental challenges.

Qualifications

• Strong ability to work collaboratively within a research team.
• Experience in environmental science research methodologies.

Responsabilités

• Conduct a quantitative online survey on eco-anxiety among the French population.
• Analyze the impact of environmental communication on mental health.

Connaissances

Teamwork

Research Methodology

Data Analysis

Formation

Master Degree in Environmental Science

Outils

LimeSurvey

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Universite de Montpellier Department Human Resources Research Field Environmental science Political sciences Sociology Psychological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 31 May 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe (other) Reference Number 2025-D0023 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

What is the ExposUM Doctoral Nexus?

The Doctoral Nexus proposed by the ExposUM Institute are networks of 3 to 4 PhD students from different disciplines and affiliated to at least two different research units. Compared with a traditional PhD, taking part in a Doctoral Nexus will encourage the ability to work in a team and to design projects in a transdisciplinary way while deepening one's own field of expertise. A specific teaching programme will be offered and the doctoral students concerned will also have the opportunity to organise a seminar within the Nexus network. Theses are funded from the outset for 4 years, including the PhD student's salary and an environmental allowance.

Context of the PhD Thesis:

Eco-anxiety is both an individual and a social phenomenon. When it develops and impacts on mental health, it is capable of altering individual decisions (having children) as well as social behaviour (resentment towards those who 'don't do it', guilt for'not doing it' compared to others) and thus social cohesion. It can take the form of isolation or various forms of more or less radical commitment that change the structure and functioning of society by segmenting it. We are following on from the theses previously described by working on the determinants of eco-anxiety (Pihkala, 2020), the emotions it arouses and the impact it can have on individuals' decisions and actions (Helm 2018; Ojala, 2021).

Objective: This thesis looks at the consequences of exposure to environmental risks, via the communication that accompanies public policies, on the level of eco-anxiety and well-being. The latter will be considered from the individual (construction of a life project) and social (involvement in the life and development of society) points of view.

Expected spin-offs: The results will enable us to broaden our knowledge of the sources of eco-anxiety and to go beyond an understanding of emotional reactions to environmental stresses to analyse the consequences for individuals of their decisions and potential changes in society. In this way, we will be able to question and discuss the ways in which public information and transition policies can be adapted.

This project is part of a Nexus involving the groups of Sylvaine ARTERO & Marie-Laure PARMENTIER and Carine BECAMEL (IGF) & Laurent GIVALOIS (IGF) and Manuel BÄCHTOLD (LIRDEF) & Laurent BRUN (LIRDEF).

Main mission:

- to broaden the population studied, with a quantitative online survey on a representative sample of the French population (minimum of 1000 participants), in order to question the determinants of perceived and measured eco-anxiety. We are contributing here to previous research by questioning the responsibility for direct and indirect exposure to environmental risks through the communication that accompanies public policies (Hickman, 2021; Pihkala, 2022), whether it comes from public authorities, the media or experts.

These communications are sometimes carried out in the heat of the moment and focus directly on recent extreme weather events (Xinthia) and their economic consequences (destruction, human lives).

Beyond these circumstances, we speak of cold communication. This type of communication involves more diversity in the message and medium (information, persuasion, humour, commitment) and in the message itself, with a focus on explaining indirect consequences (health, invasive species, etc.), which is known as indirect exposure.

We will add to the explorations an analysis of specific climatic risks, grouped together under the heading of climate change-related risks, in order to identify those that cause the highest-level anxiety, while questioning the duration of the anxiety-provoking effects of these different events and the ways in which they impact (2). Here we can draw on laboratory experiments to supplement the findings of the survey.

- (2) Secondly, we will try to estimate the potential consequences of eco-anxiety, bearing in mind that inclusiveness and social cohesion are decisive for the implementation of transition policies (Collof et al., 023). This interaction takes place both at the individual level, by encouraging the autonomy of individuals, and in terms of governance, by structuring collective arrangements and networks. We believe that impairment of good mental health will result in impairment of individual and social capabilities.

- In the life cycle, because the ability to build one's life can be impacted if eco-anxiety undermines mental health and leads, for example, to depression, or if it weakens self-esteem and leads to a lowering of expectations (Sen, 2012). It is possible to test the impact of communication on self-esteem, on an index of life satisfaction or to question the emotions felt in the short term.

Methodology:

We will study a larger sample of the population (representative of the French population, n=1000) than the two specific sub-populations considered in the other two theses (n=500 for the exploratory survey in thesis n°1 with a non-representative sample, and a young and student sample for thesis n°3), which will enable us to confirm the previous results (thesis n°1) and to situate them in relation to the general population (thesis n°3). In order to identify key determinants of the degree of eco-anxiety, this first survey will include additional variables (compared with the studies in the other theses) on personality and individual reactions (e.g. In order to identify the key determinants of the degree of eco-anxiety, this first survey will include additional variables (compared with the studies in the other theses) on personality and individual reactions (e.g. altruistic values, values of connection with nature, feelings of isolation), exploratory questions on the ways in which people are aware of climate risks, and variables such as gender and the size of the municipality of residence in order to compare the role of the environment in urban and rural areas on both perceptions and the social structures that determine social cohesion.

Depending on the results obtained, dedicated sub-surveys will be carried out to 1) characterise the impact of exposure methods: methods of indirect knowledge of climate risks and methods of communication about direct exposure experienced (heatwaves) and 2) find out the consequences of the perception of climate risks on the life course. In the latter case, different samples of different ages will be studied. Laboratory experiments will also be set up (and dedicated funding requested) in order to test the determinants identified.

Feasibility:

The data will be collected using the LimeSurvey platform, which is already available to the UM's teacher-researchers, with the support of the CEEM's specialist technical engineers. The analysis of the surveys may be furthered by the construction of laboratory experiments within the CEE-M or a quasi-experimental adaptation of the questionnaires (DCE). The CEE-M has the expertise and platforms required for this type of methodology and the PhD student will therefore be able to use them with technical and methodological assistance.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Environmental science Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Ability to work as part of a Nexus team.

Research Field Environmental science

Additional Information

Selection process

The application must include the following elements:

• A copy of the diploma required for registration

Application before Monday 31 May, 14:00 CET

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Center for Environmental Economics - Montpellier Country France City Montpellier Postal Code 34000 Geofield