Psychometric validation of the solastalgia scale: an analysis of the mediating role of anxiety and depression in an Italian sample

Introduction: In recent years, interest in climate change has expanded to include not only its physical health consequences but also its mental health impacts. Climate change is giving rise to new forms of environment-related psychopathologies, such as eco-anxiety and solastalgia, which is psychological distress caused by negative changes in the local environment. Solastalgia is particularly relevant for populations affected by climate change, such as the Inuit. Currently, there is a solastagia scale (SOS) that replicates Albrecht’s (2003) two-dimensional structure, and this study aims to examine the translated and adapted version of the scale in terms of factorial structure, validity, and reliability, as well as to test the mediating role of depression in the relationship between emotion regulation and solastalgia. Method: The scale was translated from English to Italian and then back-translated to verify its accuracy. The final Italian version was administered to a sample of 705 Italian adults (M 31.99 years; SD 14.67; 35.7% male). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and mediation analysis were conducted on 657 (M 31.96 years; SD 14.50; 36.2% male) aged between 18 and 91 years. Results: The factor analysis suggested a two-factor structure, confirming the original two-dimensional structure of the SOS. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total scale is.85, for the “solace” subscale is.85, and for the “algia” subscale is.90. Additionally, the results show a significant mediating effect of depression. Conclusion: The study validates the Italian version of the SOS, confirming its two-dimensional structure and demonstrating strong reliability. The significant mediating effect of depression highlights the complex interplay between emotion regulation and solastalgia, emphasizing the need for further research and targeted interventions to address these psychological impacts of climate change.