Smog, Stress, and Society
Keywords:
Smog, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Young Adults, Psychological Health, Social Well-Being, Urban PollutionAbstract
Smog, an escalating byproduct of climate change and rapid urbanization, poses a significant risk to public health and resilience, especially in megacities like Lahore. This study examines the psychological, biological, and social impacts of smog on young adults, situating these findings within the broader discourse on climate-induced hazards and disaster risk reduction (DRR). Employing a mixed-method approach, the research involved focus group discussions, scale development with expert validation, and large-scale public perception analysis using digital text analytics (Voyant Tools) on responses from 800 participants. Results revealed eleven major themes ranging from anxiety, mood disturbances, and impaired concentration to respiratory ailments, skin conditions, and reduced social interactions, capturing the multidimensional burden of smog exposure. Traffic emissions, loss of green spaces, and industrial pollution emerged as the most cited contributors, reflecting gaps in urban environmental management. The study’s Bio-Psychosocial (BPS) Scale (CVI = 0.93) offers a validated tool for assessing smog’s multifaceted impacts, enabling targeted policy and anticipatory interventions. These insights highlight the need to integrate air quality monitoring, green infrastructure, and public awareness into climate change adaptation and DRR strategies to safeguard both health and societal cohesion in vulnerable urban populations.
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