An Integrated Review on the Psychological Impact of Climate Change on Youth: Eco-Anxiety

Abstract

Climate change is now becoming one of the most alarming issues, significantly impacting young individuals by leading to an increase in emotional and psychological responses to the environmental emergency. Among the notable reactions is eco-anxiety; it is a continuous concern about both the planet’s future and one’s related sense of self. This review examines 25 research papers from different regions and settings to explore how climate change impacts the mental well-being of youth and influences their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral experiences. The results reveal that eco-anxiety produces dual effects. On one hand, it can inspire behavior, raise environmental consciousness, and foster adaptive coping strategies, promoting youth to participate in sustainability initiatives and activism. Conversely, severe eco-anxiety may cause distress, sorrow, powerlessness, and intense fear, particularly when young people perceive an absence of control or assistance. It also underscores the effects on youth, such as anxiety, sorrow, and doubt, while also promoting the development of specific education to strengthen resilience and fostering community support to better assist young people in coping with climate-related stress. Ultimately, this review examines how eco-anxiety subtly affects young people’s lives and stresses the need for interventions that build emotional resilience and support sustained wellbeing amid climate change.