Assessing Sustainable Behaviors and Health Impacts of Climate Change

Evaluation of Educational Activity for Increasing Environmentally Sustainable Behaviors and Awareness of Climate Change Health Effects in 60-72 Month Old Children

The relationship between climate change, sustainability and child health is complex and important. These three concepts are interacting factors and have significant impacts on children's health. Sustainability measures are vital to protect child health by mitigating the impacts of climate change. At the same time, children's education and awareness is an important factor that will contribute to future generations living in a sustainable world. As a society, tackling climate change and striving for a sustainable future is crucial to ensure that children live healthy and safe lives. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the education program and educational videos to be applied to children in terms of environmentally sustainable behaviors and awareness of the health effects of climate change in 60-72-month-old children studying in Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality Day Care Center and Nurseries. In addition, in this study, it was aimed to measure the level of global climate change awareness of parents and to evaluate the relationship with children's environmentally sustainable behaviors.

The data will be obtained from 60-72 month old children and their parents who are studying in Day Care Centers and Nurseries of Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality in 2023-2024.

Within the scope of the study, a detailed explanation of the study, informed consent forms and questionnaire forms will be delivered to the parents and children through their teachers. The questionnaire form prepared by utilizing the literature will be applied to the parents and children who agree to participate in the study. Subsequently, the education program to be prepared for the intervention group will be implemented in selected day care centers and nurseries. Four weeks after the educational intervention, the children will be reached again and the children in the intervention group will be asked to fill out the questionnaire form for the second time.

The population of the study consisted of 132 children aged 60-72 months who were studying in Day Care Centers and Nurseries of Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality in 2023-2024.

In the study, when type 1 (α) error was taken as 5% and type 2 error (1-β) was taken as 90%, it was calculated with the G*Power 3.1 statistical program that there should be at least 36 people in the intervention group when the effect size was accepted as 0.50. Considering those who could not continue the study, it was planned to be conducted with a total of 38 students in order to reach the required sample size.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The study will include children aged 60-72 months and their parents, whose consent was obtained from parents and children.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with any condition that prevents them from attending school (any chronic medical condition that prevents them from participating in the study) and mainstreaming students (children in need of special education; children with adaptation difficulties, dyslexia, autism diagnosis, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) will not be included in the study.