Concern about the potential environmental impact of a large-scale war among Latin American adults.

BACKGROUND

Large-scale armed conflicts can cause substantial environmental damage, with consequences for ecosystems, infrastructure, and population health. However, little is known about concern regarding these potential impacts among Latin American populations.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the factors associated with concern about the potential environmental impact of a large-scale war among Latin American adults.

METHODS

A multi-country cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults residing in Latin American countries. Concern about the environmental impact of a possible large-scale war was assessed using a study-specific question; the survey was conducted during the early weeks of the Russia-Ukraine war, but the outcome referred to concern about a possible large-scale war rather than to that conflict alone. Associations with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress measured with the DASS-21, used here as indicators of general psychological symptoms rather than conflict-specific effects, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, were then analyzed. Generalized linear models with Poisson distribution, log link, and robust variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

Among 2,669 respondents, 55% reported concern about the environmental consequences of a possible large-scale war. In multivariable analysis, concern was higher among participants with moderate or greater stress (PR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.04–1.28) and among those residing in Argentina (PR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.44–2.21). Concern was lower among men (PR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.72–0.85) and among participants with technical education (PR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67–0.99).

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of respondents expressed concern about the potential environmental consequences of a large-scale war. This concern was associated with stress and selected sociodemographic factors. These findings provide exploratory evidence on war-related environmental risk perception in Latin America.