Churchgoers’ climate change beliefs and attitudes in Nigeria: Do gender and marital status matter?

While the influence of religious values and affiliation on climate change attitudes has been established, there is limited knowledge about the role of demographic factors such as gender and marital status, especially in the Global South. This study examines the influence of gender and marital status on churchgoers’ climate change beliefs and attitudes in Nigeria. Using a multivariate analysis, the study explores the relationship between gender, marital status, and four latent variables: climate change awareness, perception, action, and perceived church role. The results indicate no significant overall differences between males and females or between married and unmarried individuals in relation to the four variables. However, significant interactions between gender and marital status were found for climate change awareness, action, and perceived church role. Unmarried males demonstrated higher awareness and engagement in climate change action, while married males exhibited greater awareness. Also, unmarried males perceived the church to have a more significant role, while married females had slightly higher perceptions of the church’s role. These findings highlight the importance of considering the intersectionality of gender and marital status in understanding churchgoers’ climate change beliefs and attitudes in Nigeria.