In the present study, one of the central aims was to validate the EGuiQ-11 scale in order to assess Eco guilt among Lebanese adults. We conducted the EFA of the scale, which confirmed that all items measured Eco guilt. Having said that, 3 items were deemed as doublets and removed. Consequently, the final validated scale consisted of 11 items. The findings indicate excellent reliability (α = 0.92; ω = .92) in agreement with the original scale’s results (α = 0.89) [6] and a version validated for the German-speaking population (α = 0.93) [12].
Similarly, the study aimed to validate the EGriQ-6 scale to evaluate Eco grief among Lebanese adults. As a result of the EFA of the scale, 2 items were identified as doublets and omitted from the final validated version, which was made up of 4 items. The results also showed excellent reliability (α = 0.83; ω = .83) in comparison with the original scale’s outcome (α = 0.77) [6] and the German validated version (α = 0.82) [12]. In both the original [6] and the German [12] validated versions, EFA showed good fit for a single-factor solution. Meanwhile, the current findings show that the EFA for Eco grief indicated a unidimensional model, similar to the original scale [6]. This might be an indicator of the homogeneity of the Eco grief measure, as it assesses general grief related to the environment. Overall, the current results indicate that the validated EGuiQ-11 and the EGriQ-6 scales into Arabic are accurate means of assessment of the mentioned concepts within the Lebanese Arabic-speaking adult population.
Additionally, gender invariance was evaluated for the EGuiQ-11 and the EGriQ-6 scales. Results showed gender invariance in terms of Eco Guilt scores (M = 8.75, SD = 2.78 vs M = 8.93, SD = 2.83, t(761) = .862, p = .389) and Eco Grief scores (M = 16.93, SD = 5.33 vs M = 17.09, SD = 5.44, t(761) = .401, p = .689). In the original study, one of the assumptions was that females are more likely to be environmentally-conscious, and therefore have a higher probability of scoring high on the Eco guilt and Eco grief scales [6]. This hypothesis was later confirmed, however, gender was deemed to be a minimally influential factor when it comes to Eco guilt and Eco grief [6]. Similar results were found in the study validating the EGuiQ-11 and the EGriQ-6 scales for the German population were found, with females scoring slightly higher than males [12]. Environmental awareness and action are heavily dependent on a country’s economic power and governmental policies, which is the case in Lebanon [42]. In fact, some major environmental issues in Lebanon are caused by the lack of economic measures [43], potentially affecting knowledge and call for action regarding environmental concerns. It is fair to assume that the absence of economic resources and current governmental strategies, such as national awareness campaigns, might affect the overall Lebanese population’s stance on pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors irrespective of gender, contributing to the absence of significant gender differences in Eco guilt and Eco grief scores in the present sample.
In line with the initial study by Ágoston et al. [6], we found that the correlation between Eco guilt and Eco grief was positive and significant, indicating that feelings of guilt regarding environmental actions and experiencing grief as a result of observing negative environmental outcomes are interrelated. This prompts prospective research regarding Eco guilt and Eco grief scores within the Lebanese population to examine the possibility of a significant relationship. According to Abraham Maslow, humans have needs that exist in a hierarchical system, and one must be achieved before elevating to the next category [44]. The first category consists of basic physiological needs including food, water, shelter, and breathable air, which can be compromised in the case of ecological disasters such as floods, wildfires and deforestation [45]. As a consequence, a deficiency in or absence of the components essential for achieving physiological needs may cause psychopathology, psychological distress resulting from variables such as Eco guilt and Eco grief, and hinder humans from reaching higher-order needs.
Adding to the current findings, Eco guilt showed a positive association with psychological distress and climate anxiety. In general, feelings and intensity of guilt are positively correlated with depression [46]. Moreover, ecological anxiety was related to ecological emotions [47], which could possibly include Eco guilt. In a similar study, Eco guilt had a positive relationship with climate anxiety [12]. It can be hypothesized that ecological emotions such as guilt can be rooted in moral distress, which is also connected to overall psychological distress [48]. Also, Eco grief had a positive correlation with psychological distress and climate anxiety. First, it was suggested that Eco grief is a normative reaction to environmental change that can affect mental health [9]. In the past, different factors were associated with Eco grief such as anxiety and distress related to climate [49]. Likewise, it has been established that Eco grief and ecological anxiety are closely related [50]. Therefore, the results of our study are in accordance with previous research. A model previously suggested that depression is a stage of grieving when witnessing detrimental ecological events, where the individual experiences upset and distress [51], which could explain this study’s results.
Limitations
Some limitations should be noted. First, the EGuiQ-11 and EGriQ-6 scales have only been validated once to another population, apart from the original study making the scales. This means that the literature does not offer significant content to compare previous validations with the current validation of the scale for the Lebanese population. Second, the data was collected from a self-administered online questionnaire, which increases the probability of response bias. Lastly, a snowball sampling method was used in this study, making the sample less representative.
Practical Implications
The current findings call attention to a topic that is not well-researched in Lebanon. It also provides a validation to reliable scales assessing emotions related to the environment, the EGuiQ-11 for Eco guilt and EGriQ-6 for Eco grief. Moreover, it highlights the importance of investigating ecologically-related emotions in the clinical setting as it might have an impact on psychological distress. This reinforces the value of evaluating the psychological outcomes of climate change and utilizing it in guiding prosocial behavior to address ecological concerns, which can potentially improve the general population mental health.