Exploring the Efficacy of Storytelling in Education about Climate Change

Nina Adjanin, Northwest Missouri State UniversityFollow
Srijana Katuwal, Ohio UniversityFollow
Heidi Sevestre, AMAPFollow
Gordon Brooks, Ohio UniversityFollow

Keywords

storytelling, climate change, students, theory of planned behavior

Abstract

From bedtime tales to digital narratives, stories wield unparalleled influence, shaping perceptions, and fostering empathy. Through mediums like social media and digital platforms, storytelling becomes a tool for advocacy, amplifying voices, and catalyzing social change. In this qualitative study, 107 higher education students from diverse backgrounds participated. The purpose of this study was to uncover salient beliefs about climate change stories on popular social media platforms among full-time college students. The results are based on three key components of the theory of planned behavior (TPB): affective beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs. The respondents expressed both positive and negative attitudes towards storytelling on social media for climate change. On the other hand, the risk of misinformation, emotional overload, and oversimplification were considered as disadvantages. The normative beliefs of the respondents showed they felt that environmentally conscious people were supportive of the use of climate storytelling on social media, whereas political and economic opponents were deemed to be resistant towards such content. Short but visually compelling climate change content from credible sources, positive storytelling, firsthand narratives, and ease in accessing climate change storytelling were considered as control factors that enhanced the use of storytelling. Information overload, disinterest in social media, emotional distress, misinformation, and credibility concerns were considered as barriers in preventing people’s engagement with climate storytelling. This study also emphasizes the need for balanced and credible narratives that represent climate challenges while inspiring hope and agency. Through storytelling, educators can refine pedagogical strategies, fostering a generation empowered to confront global challenges with empathy and resolve.

Recommended Citation

Adjanin, Nina; Katuwal, Srijana; Sevestre, Heidi; and Brooks, Gordon (2026) "Exploring the Efficacy of Storytelling in Education about Climate Change," Mid-Western Educational Researcher: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/mwer.38.01.02
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/mwer/vol38/iss1/2