Fear for the future: Eco-anxiety and health implications, a systematic review

Abstract

Background Although there is no standard definition for eco-anxiety, most authors define it as people's emotional reaction of concern, worry, anxiety, and fear in view of global Climate Change (CC) threats and concurrent environmental degradation. This systematic review was carried out to critically evaluate the evidence on eco-anxiety related to CC and its health implications in general populations.

Methods We performed a search for scientific articles in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central. Studies were included if they complied with the study objective. Selection of articles and data extraction were carried out independently by 2 reviewers. We used the Axis tool and JBI critical appraisal checklist to assess the quality of the studies.

Results A final sample of 12 articles was included in this review. The methodological quality of the studies was limited. A wide variety of eco-anxiety definitions was used in the different studies but further research is needed to provide conceptual clarity of the term eco-anxiety. Eco-anxiety was associated with functional impairment, symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress and insomnia, lower self-rated mental health, and reluctance to have children. Moreover, habitual worry about global warming was associated with a pro-ecological worldview, a green self-identity and pro-environmental behavior, strongly suggesting a constructive nature. Indeed, pro-environmental behavior in the form of climate activism would buffer the impact of CCA cognitive-emotional impairment on MDD symptoms. However, sometimes engaging in pro-environmental behavior might not be successful in dealing with eco-anxiety, since individuals might perceive that their efforts do not help to mitigate the CC crisis.

Conclusions Results have to be interpreted with caution since the methodological quality of the studies was limited. However, they do suggest a link between eco-anxiety and negative mental health outcomes, mainly in younger generations, women, and poorer countries in the “Global South”. Eco-anxiety may constitute a stressor to mental health, particularly if coping mechanisms are not successfully developed