Climate change significantly threatens coastal regions, with Portugal's Aveiro district being highly vulnerable due to its low-lying, urbanized areas. The risk of flooding induces various cognitive and emotional responses that influence the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation efforts. This study investigates the complex interplay between place attachment, risk perception, eco-anxiety, and coping strategies among Aveiro residents. It explores whether active and traditional place attachment styles predict active or passive coping mechanisms, and if risk perception and eco-anxiety mediate these relationships. The study further examines the impact of trust in authorities on coping strategy selection. Understanding these psychological mechanisms is crucial for developing effective community-based adaptation and mitigation plans.

The literature highlights the variable responses of coastal communities to climate change threats. While awareness of climate change is increasing, minimizing regional risk and a lack of preparedness are also observed (Costas et al., 2015; Domingues et al., 2021). Place attachment, a multifaceted concept encompassing affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects (Devine-Wright, 2011), has been shown to influence risk perception and coping strategies (de Dominicis et al., 2015; Stancu et al., 2020). However, studies often use a unidimensional approach, neglecting the distinction between active and traditional attachment (Hidalgo and Hernández, 2001; Casakin et al., 2021). Risk perception (Slovic, 1987) and trust in authorities (Siegrist et al., 2005) also influence coping strategies. Eco-anxiety, or climate anxiety (Clayton, 2020), arising from concerns about climate threats and future uncertainties, is also linked to coping mechanisms, potentially promoting either disengagement or pro-environmental actions (Kurth and Pihkala, 2022). This study builds upon this literature by examining the multidimensionality of place attachment and its influence on coping in the context of eco-anxiety and trust in authorities.

An online questionnaire was administered to 197 Aveiro residents aged 18 and above. The sample was predominantly female (58%) and highly educated (71%), with a mean age of 39.35 years. The questionnaire assessed various constructs: * **Place Attachment:** A 16-item scale adapted from Lewicka (2011) measured active and traditional place attachment. Active attachment focused on community involvement, while traditional attachment centered on long-term residence and family ties. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.69 and 0.68, respectively. * **Risk Perception:** A 5-item scale adapted from de Dominicis et al. (2015) assessed perceived risk of rising water levels, showing high reliability (α = 0.86). * **Eco-anxiety:** A 12-item adapted version of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13) measured eco-anxiety levels (α = 0.86). * **Coping Strategies:** A 17-item scale adapted from Homburg et al. (2007) measured active (problem-solving) and passive coping strategies. Active coping reliability was good (α = 0.81), while passive coping reliability was moderate (α = 0.59) after excluding certain items. * **Trust in Authorities:** A 6-item scale adapted from Vaske et al. (2007) and Carlton and Jacobson (2013) assessed trust in authorities responsible for managing environmental risks. High reliability (α = 0.96) was observed. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlations, and sequential mediation analysis using PROCESS macro version 3.5 (Hayes et al., 2018) to test the hypothesized relationships between place attachment, risk perception, eco-anxiety, coping strategies, and trust in authorities.

Correlational analysis revealed that active coping was positively associated with active place attachment, risk perception, and eco-anxiety. Passive coping showed a negative relationship with risk perception and eco-anxiety. No significant correlation was found between traditional place attachment and passive coping. Trust in authorities negatively correlated with active coping, risk perception, and eco-anxiety. Sequential mediation analysis supported the hypothesized model for active coping: active place attachment predicted higher risk perception and eco-anxiety, which in turn predicted greater use of active coping strategies. The indirect effect was significant (B = 0.03, LLCI = 0.00, ULCI = 0.06). However, the hypothesized mediation model for passive coping was not supported. Although the data suggested a mediation effect where low risk perception leads to low eco-anxiety and subsequently increases passive coping strategies, the indirect effect was not statistically significant. Lower trust in authorities was directly associated with more active coping strategies (B = −0.18, p < 0.05), but this relationship became non-significant when other variables were included in the model. The models explained 33% and 17% of the variance in active and passive coping, respectively.

The study's findings highlight that place attachment's influence on coping strategies is mediated by risk perception and eco-anxiety, particularly for active coping. Active place attachment leads to increased awareness of local threats, translating into higher risk perception and eco-anxiety, which motivates active coping behaviors. However, traditional attachment does not seem to directly influence risk perception or passive coping choices. The lack of support for the mediation model for passive coping may be due to the factors like lower social activity among those with traditional place attachment. The significant positive relationship between low eco-anxiety and active coping suggests that moderate levels of concern can be a motivating factor for pro-environmental actions. The negative correlation between trust in authorities and active coping underscores the importance of building public trust for effective climate change adaptation strategies.

This study contributes to the understanding of how multidimensional place attachment styles relate to different coping strategies in the face of climate change threats. The findings emphasize the need to consider individual cognitive and emotional factors when designing and implementing community-based adaptation and mitigation measures. Future research could investigate passive coping mechanisms further, explore the role of trust in authorities more thoroughly, and expand the sample to improve representativeness.

The study's limitations include the convenience sampling method, potentially biasing the sample towards more active community members. The low reliability of some scales (place attachment and passive coping) also warrants further investigation. The reliance on self-reported data may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future studies should address these limitations using more robust measures and broader sampling techniques.