Eco-anxiety, which is anxiety about the impact of climate change, is associated with poor mental health in adolescents.
- A new study finds that existing mental health issues can make teens more vulnerable to eco-anxiety.
- On the other hand, teenagers with strong concerns about climate change were more inclined to take action to protect the planet.
- The authors believe that targeted psychosocial support that is sensitive to climate change issues must be developed to simultaneously support climate engagement and the mental health of young people.
Heat wave, fire, storm… THE climate change can create great anxiety and concern. So-called eco-anxiety is associated with poor mental health in young people, study findsImperial College of London and the University of queenslandpublished August 23 in the journal PLOS Global Audience heath. However, these teenagers would be more inclined to act for the environment.
A poor mental health makes you more vulnerable toeco-anxiety
To better understand eco-anxiety and its impact on everyday life, the researchers interviewed more than 500 Britons aged 16 to 24. They asked about their mental health, their general well-being, their distress with climate change, how it has positively or negatively affected their lives and whether they are involved in environmental actions and of the climate.
The results show that individuals with mental health problems are more likely to experience eco-anxiety.
In addition, around 10% of young people surveyed said they were very anxious and regularly worried about the impact of climate change on their future. “Although few of these people had experienced extreme weather events, they said they were devastated by environmental degradation in places they loved, frustrated with the lack of action on climate change, the lack of personal action, worry about their future, and feelings of guilt and shame”specify the scientists in a communicated.
Global warming : more anxious, but more likely to act
If individuals who have experienced mental health disorders such as depression, have an increased risk of suffering from eco-anxiety, they are also more inclined to take action for the environment.
Indeed, participants who expressed great distress in the face of climate change were more likely to engage and thrive in the fight against rising temperatures and pollution. “Positive emotions, such as hope, and negative emotions, such as anger and frustration, were linked to climate activism, while guilt, shame, sadness and fear were associated with less action” , says the team.
Limportance of supporting young people facing eco-anxiety
In the face of the psychological distress associated with eco-anxiety in young people, it is essential to recognize the impact of climate change on their mental well-being, according to the researchers.
The authors add “Even in the midst of the global pandemic, and despite being spared the worst climate impacts, young UK residents were distraught over climate change. Our work suggests that emotions related to climate change can prompt action, which has implications for how we communicate about climate change. Our results also highlight the need for targeted and climate-sensitive psychosocial support to simultaneously support climate engagement and youth mental health.”