ICT Proficiency as a Moderator of Climate Concern and Extreme Weather Expectations Among University Students of Business and Economics

Nikša Alfirević (), Zdenko Klepić and Maja Mihaljević Kosor
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Nikša Alfirević: Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Zdenko Klepić: Rector’s Office, University of Mostar, Trg Hrvatskih Velikana 1, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Maja Mihaljević Kosor: Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: This study tested whether Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency moderates the relationship between climate anxiety and specific expectations of future extreme weather events. Using survey data from 259 university students in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, we applied moderation analysis (Hayes PROCESS Model 1) and find a significant moderation (Int = 0.108, p = 0.030; ΔR 2 = 1.8%). A Johnson–Neyman procedure indicated that climate anxiety reliably predicts risk expectations once ICTSkill is ≥ 3.99 (≈76.8% of the sample). By embedding ICT proficiency as a domain-specific perceived behavioural control construct, our results suggest that targeted digital literacy training can serve as a sustainability education tool, converting climate concern into informed preparedness.

Keywords: climate anxiety; climate change outcomes; information and communication technology (ICT) proficiency; sustainability education; climate adaptation; South-East Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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