The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders
Abstract Background and objectives The adverse impacts of climate change on mental health is a burgeoning area, although findings are inconsistent. The emerging concept of eco-anxiety represents distress in relation to climate change and may be related to mental health. The aim of this study was to...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06274-1 |
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| author | Suzanne M. Cosh Rosie Ryan Kaii Fallander Kylie Robinson Josephine Tognela Phillip J. Tully Amy D. Lykins |
| author_facet | Suzanne M. Cosh Rosie Ryan Kaii Fallander Kylie Robinson Josephine Tognela Phillip J. Tully Amy D. Lykins |
| author_sort | Suzanne M. Cosh |
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| description | Abstract Background and objectives The adverse impacts of climate change on mental health is a burgeoning area, although findings are inconsistent. The emerging concept of eco-anxiety represents distress in relation to climate change and may be related to mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between eco-anxiety with validated mental health outcomes, specifically psychological distress and symptoms of major affective disorders. Design Systematic review. Methods EBSCO, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were searched to February 2024 for studies of adult samples quantifying eco-anxiety (exposure, i.e. fear, worry or anxiety in relation to climate change) and symptoms of psychological distress and major affective disorders (outcomes), as assessed by validated measures. Results Full text review of 83 studies was performed, and k = 35 studies were included in the review (N = 45 667, 61% female, M age 31.2 years). Consistently, eco-anxiety showed small to large positive correlations with mental health outcomes of psychological distress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress symptoms. However, results regarding post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and pathological worry were mixed. Stronger associations were observed where eco-anxiety was operationalised as ‘anxiety’ rather than ‘worry’. Conclusions Findings underscore that eco-anxiety is related to psychological burden. Greater consideration of eco-anxiety in assessment and treatment is needed in clinical practice and further policy development is warranted at the intersection of climate and health to address the mental health challenges posed by climate change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cce7a857aa74f6abeecc1698c4d390c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cce7a857aa74f6abeecc1698c4d390c2024-11-24T12:37:54ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-11-0124111910.1186/s12888-024-06274-1The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disordersSuzanne M. Cosh0Rosie Ryan1Kaii Fallander2Kylie Robinson3Josephine Tognela4Phillip J. Tully5Amy D. Lykins6School of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandSchool of Psychology, University of New EnglandAbstract Background and objectives The adverse impacts of climate change on mental health is a burgeoning area, although findings are inconsistent. The emerging concept of eco-anxiety represents distress in relation to climate change and may be related to mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between eco-anxiety with validated mental health outcomes, specifically psychological distress and symptoms of major affective disorders. Design Systematic review. Methods EBSCO, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were searched to February 2024 for studies of adult samples quantifying eco-anxiety (exposure, i.e. fear, worry or anxiety in relation to climate change) and symptoms of psychological distress and major affective disorders (outcomes), as assessed by validated measures. Results Full text review of 83 studies was performed, and k = 35 studies were included in the review (N = 45 667, 61% female, M age 31.2 years). Consistently, eco-anxiety showed small to large positive correlations with mental health outcomes of psychological distress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress symptoms. However, results regarding post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and pathological worry were mixed. Stronger associations were observed where eco-anxiety was operationalised as ‘anxiety’ rather than ‘worry’. Conclusions Findings underscore that eco-anxiety is related to psychological burden. Greater consideration of eco-anxiety in assessment and treatment is needed in clinical practice and further policy development is warranted at the intersection of climate and health to address the mental health challenges posed by climate change.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06274-1Eco-worryClimate change distressEco-stressPsychological disordersEcological worryWellbeing |
| spellingShingle | Suzanne M. Cosh Rosie Ryan Kaii Fallander Kylie Robinson Josephine Tognela Phillip J. Tully Amy D. Lykins The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders BMC Psychiatry Eco-worry Climate change distress Eco-stress Psychological disorders Ecological worry Wellbeing |
| title | The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| title_full | The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| title_short | The relationship between climate change and mental health: a systematic review of the association between eco-anxiety, psychological distress, and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| title_sort | relationship between climate change and mental health a systematic review of the association between eco anxiety psychological distress and symptoms of major affective disorders |
| topic | Eco-worry Climate change distress Eco-stress Psychological disorders Ecological worry Wellbeing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06274-1 |
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