Eco-anxiety in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health

The constant perceptual dread of environmental disasters and catastrophes caused by allegedly irreversible impacts of climate change (climate change) with corresponding fear for future generations is called eco-anxiety. Yet it is not considered a psychological disease, but a frequent increase in eco-anxiety can result into mental illness. It ranges from mild stress to clinical disease viz; anxiety, depression, self-harm tendencies along with maladaptive coping practices i.e. substance abuse. Adolescents develop their personality very rapidly with higher magnitude of substantial development and changes. Presently, they are far more conscious about the adverse impact of climate change on environment and human health. The present chapter aims to identify the existing literature, primarily focused on identification of the impact of climate change on adolescents’ mental health and pointing out various knowledge gaps in the existing literature and future research considerations. The review has synthesized and evaluated the existing scholarly literatures regarding eco-anxiety while using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for reporting. It has been evident from existing literature that, adolescents are facing eco-anxiety along with depression, extreme emotion, sadness, fear, etc. due to emotional attachment with the environment and awareness about climate change which also leads to the use of maladaptive substances to cope with eco-anxiety. Most of the available researches are conducted in American and European countries. Children, adolescents and indigenous inhabitants are identified as the most vulnerable group. Methodological framework to analyze grassroot experiences of eco-anxiety is still not satisfactory.