Comparative Analysis of Lifestyle Responses to Climate Change Between Civil Servants and Traders in Uyo Metropolis of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to determine lifestyle responses to climate change between Civil servants and Traders in Uyo Metropolis of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Three specific objectives encompassing two research questions and one hypothesis were raised to guide the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of 2000 respondents (1,118 civil servants and 982 traders). A sample size of 333 respondents was selected using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire titled: Lifestyle Responses to Climate Change Questionnaire (LRCCQ). The instrument was validated by three experts all from University of Uyo, Uyo. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Cronbach alpha statistical tool which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.81. The research questions were analysed using mean while the hypothesis was tested using independent t- test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that a mean value of 3.40 Civil servants respond to heat induced by climate change by staying under the air conditioner while 2.22 of the respondents indicated that they use white chalk on their bodies to stem the effect of heat occasioned by climate change. However, traders in the study area indicated that they respond to climate change by drinking water to ameliorate dehydration caused by the condition (3.15). The result of the hypothesis however revealed that, there was no significant difference in the mean responses to climate change between civil servants and traders in the study area. Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that civil servants and traders alike all experience the unusual rise in temperature causing excessive heat radiation as a consequence of climate change but they vary in their lifestyle responses to the situation although the level of variance is not significant. The researchers therefore, recommend among others that civil servants and traders should adopt and maintain natural ways of coping with climate change to forestall health challenges in the near future occasioned by either excessive exposure to cold through the use of air conditioner or lying on the bare floor.