Hannah Antrican

• SOAR Position: Vice President/URC Research Assistant
• Major: Psychology and Sociology
• Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Angela Mertig, Dr. William Langston

Current Focus: Eco-anxiety in college students

Additional Interests: Environmental sociology, Social justice, Development of beliefs

Project Description

My research focuses on anxiety about the environment in college students and their pro-environmental behaviors. When people are really anxious about environmental degradation and climate change, this can actually prevent them from taking action. I am also looking at the demographic differences in how MTSU students respond.

Why does this topic interest you?

I have always been passionate about the environment, and I want to help motivate people to take action about climate change in their everyday lives. Lots of people making small positive changes leads to big changes! College students specifically are important because we have been hearing about climate change our whole lives, so we it is easier for us to get anxious about it compared to older generations. We will be the ones making all the choices about how to respond to climate change one day, so it is especially important for us to be prepared to take action.

What are your professional aspirations?

I plan to go on to get a master’s in sociology and eventually pursue a career in social services and advocacy.

Do you have any advice for future researchers?

Even if your research interests don’t look like your peers, that doesn’t mean you have to wait until after undergrad to pursue it! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how the research process works because it can be intimidating as you are starting out. And join SOAR!!

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