The Influence of Eco-Anxiety on Sustainable Consumption Choices: A Brief Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: This review explores the influence of eco-anxiety on sustainable consumption, with a specific focus on the urban context. While the literature on green consumerism continues to expand, the role of emotional and psychological factors, especially eco-anxiety, in shaping sustainable consumption decisions remains underexplored. Most existing studies emphasize cognitive, social, or contextual drivers, often overlooking affective dimensions that may significantly influence consumer behavior. Addressing this gap, the review examines how emotional responses to climate change, such as eco-anxiety, inform and potentially motivate eco-friendly consumption patterns. Understanding these affective pathways offers valuable insights on how individuals and urban communities can effectively adapt to climate change and establish a sustainable consumption culture. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Sciences databases, following a predefined keyword strategy, resulting in 56 initial records. We further implemented a supplementary search of gray literature on Google Scholar to search for additional reports. The full-text screening process identified 12 eligible studies based on the following inclusion criteria: quantitative or mixed-methods studies focusing on adult and young adult individuals, including both measures of eco-anxiety and green consumption and assessing their direct or indirect relationship. Results: Findings suggest that eco-anxiety functions as a cognitive–affective motivator for sustainable consumer choices; however, the strength and direction of this influence appear contingent on moderating emotional and psychological variables and cross-cultural and demographic moderators. Discussion: This review highlights the need for urban-focused intervention tailored communication, marketing, and business strategies that address the emotional dimensions of climate change. Policymakers and businesses are encouraged to consider affective drivers as eco-anxiety to promote sustainable consumption stewardship within urban communities. By addressing these psychological responses, urban societies can become more resilient and proactive in confronting climate change challenges.

1. Introduction

Climate change, overwhelmingly driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, remains one of the most urgent and complex global challenges of our time. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1], human activities have unequivocally caused global warming, with temperatures having already increased by approximately 1.1 °C above pre-industrial levels. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, global temperatures are projected to exceed the critical 1.5 °C threshold in the near term, significantly escalating risks to ecosystems, human health, and livelihoods. Observable consequences—such as rising sea levels, intensifying heatwaves, extreme weather events, and growing food and water insecurity—are already unfolding across regions. Importantly, the IPCC [1] report also underscores the emerging psychological and mental health dimensions of climate change, including emotional distress, anxiety, and behavioral disruptions at both individual and community levels. These psychosocial effects, such as eco-anxiety, represent a critical but under-addressed dimension of climate risk [2,3].

Emotional responses to climate change such as eco-guilt and eco-grief have emerged as significant predictors of pro-environmental behavior, influencing individuals’ intentions to engage in climate action [4]. Particularly eco-anxiety, defined as anxiety or worry about environmental issues and climate change, is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing pro-environmental behavior. It has a complex but generally positive relationship with pro-environmental behavior and climate action [5,6,7,8,9]. Eco-anxiety generally motivates people to take climate action, especially at moderate levels and when paired with a sense of efficacy and focused attention [4,9]. However, excessive anxiety can sometimes lead to inaction or lower levels of engagement [10,11,12], and the emotional toll on wellbeing should not be overlooked [13]. Supporting individuals’ belief in their ability to make a difference can help channel eco-anxiety into meaningful environmental engagement.

Although the literature on the drivers of green consumerism is flourishing [14,15,16], little is known concerning the impact of affective components on the decision-making process of sustainable consumption [17,18]. As regards climate-induced emotional responses, only limited works in the literature have shown that eco-anxiety affects consumer behavior across diverse cultural contexts [19,20,21]; however, the concurrent impact of multiple social, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors on sustainable consumption call for further research to capture the size and significance of this relationship. The paper emphasizes the need for a better understanding of individual psychological processes and affective responses to design effective climate change interventions focusing on supporting sustainable consumption. Effective policy measures should consider the psychological responses of citizens to increase public participation and support [22].

Consequently, the current review aims to shed light on the limited literature on the affective drivers of green or sustainable consumption by focusing on the influence of climate change anxiety. It extends beyond existing research on the interrelationship of eco-anxiety and general pro-environmental behavior and specifically focuses on the green consumerism dimension. It further seeks to showcase how eco-emotions like climate anxiety can be harnessed in the design, development, and implementation of policies aimed at increasing eco-friendly consumer behavior and fostering a sustainable consumption culture. Finally, the review evaluates whether existing research reveals patterns of cultural bias.

In the next sections, we provide the theoretical foundations of the review focusing on the impact of climate distress and sustainable behavioral responses and then elaborate on the drivers of green consumerism by underlying the literature gap in the affective or emotional dimensions with specific emphasis on climate anxiety. We then discuss the methodological aspects of the review, the search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data extraction process. Then, the main findings of the limited works that explore the interrelationship between climate anxiety and sustainable consumption are presented, and the paper concludes with practical implications and direction for future research.

2. Theoretical Background

2.1. Climate Distress and Sustainable Behavioral Responses

Climate change has significant and growing psychological impacts, affecting mental health and emotional wellbeing through both direct experiences and indirect awareness. These impacts include increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and distress [23,24]. Eco-anxiety emerges as a central response to the awareness and experience of climate threats [25,26].

Several definitions of eco-anxiety arise from the existing literature. For instance, Clayton et al. [27] based on reports of the American Psychological Association, define chronic environmental disaster fear as eco-anxiety. Likewise, Doherty and Clayton [28,29] describe eco-anxiety as a person’s feeling against ecological doomsday fear that the fundamental ecological underpinnings of existence are on the brink of collapse. Eco-anxiety is generally described as persistent feelings of concern, worry, fear, or anxiety about environmental degradation and climate change [25,30,31,32,33]. The term eco-anxiety, except for the fear of an irreversible ecological catastrophe, also integrates the anxiety concerning tangible environmental changes and the steady decay of the individual’s wellbeing [34]. It is not a formally recognized mental disorder, but can cause significant distress and functional impairment, especially in younger people and vulnerable populations [31,32,35].

Ecological anxiety is a multidimensional phenomenon that includes emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and existential aspects, and can range from non-clinical concern to more severe psychological distress. Emotional symptoms include fear, grief, guilt, anger, despair, and hopelessness related to environmental threats [30,32,33,36], cognitive symptoms refer to persistent rumination and worry about the future of the planet and one’s own impact on the environment [31,37,38], while behavioral symptoms are linked to changes in behavior such as increased activism, lifestyle changes, or, conversely, avoidance and paralysis [31,36,37,38]. As regards the existential aspects, these include challenges to identity, meaning, happiness, and a sense of connection, as well as heightened awareness of mortality and isolation [30,33].

Eco-anxiety notifies individuals of the impending environmental hazard while at the same time mobilizing them to acquire deeper knowledge of environmental problems and actively participate in relative amelioration initiatives [36]. Even though anxiety is generally linked to harmful feelings and to pathological psychological conditions, eco-anxiety specifically may lead to constructive reactions of individuals that enhance social efforts for tackling climate change [39]. Hostile environmental conditions, such as global warming, may trigger a productive anxiety in individuals, enabling them to reassess certain behavioral aspects [40]. It is possible for individuals to successfully acclimatize to eco-anxiety and react by enabling pro-environmental decision-making [41]. Eco-anxiety is also associated with symptoms of depression, stress, insomnia, and lower self-rated mental health [31]. It can foster a pro-ecological worldview and motivate activism but may also lead to feelings of helplessness if individuals perceive their actions as ineffective [38]. Social dynamics, generational differences, and cultural context can also shape how eco-anxiety is experienced and expressed [30,32,35].

Multiple studies show that people with higher eco-anxiety are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors, such as recycling, reducing energy use, or participating in climate activism. This relationship holds even when accounting for factors like personality and ecological identity and is observed across different age groups and countries [5,9,12,42]. Specifically, multiple studies show that higher levels of eco-anxiety are associated with increased engagement in pro-environmental behaviors, such as recycling, energy saving, and activism. This relationship holds even when accounting for personality traits and ecological identity, and is observed across different populations, including adults and adolescents [5,7,8,9]. Moreover, in young adults, eco-worry is a stronger motivator for a broad range of pro-environmental actions, while eco-anxiety specifically influences more active forms of participation, such as protests or donations [43].

However, there is evidence that not only does eco-anxiety lead to more pro-environmental behavior, but engaging in such behaviors can also increase eco-anxiety, suggesting a feedback loop [12]. Some evidence suggests a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship, where moderate levels of eco-anxiety are most effective in motivating pro-environmental behavior. Very high or very low levels may reduce engagement, with high anxiety sometimes leading to inaction or “eco-paralysis” [10,11]. Moderate levels of eco-anxiety are most effective at motivating action. Very high or very low levels may reduce engagement, with high anxiety sometimes leading to “eco-paralysis”, a state of inaction due to feeling overwhelmed [11,44,45].

The positive effect of eco-anxiety on behavior is stronger when individuals feel capable of making a difference (self-efficacy) or maintain focused attention on climate issues. Low self-efficacy or high variability in attention can weaken or even reverse this effect [4,9,45]. While eco-anxiety can motivate action, it is also associated with poorer mental wellbeing, highlighting the need to balance emotional responses with psychological support [10,42]. Additionally, it is important to note that not all forms of eco-anxiety have the same impact. Rumination and anxiety about personal impact are more strongly linked to pro-environmental behavior, while affective and behavioral symptoms are more associated with poorer mental health [7,10]. Concerning individual differences, highly sensitive individuals and those with a strong environmental identity tend to experience more eco-anxiety and are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors [8], while media coverage can increase eco-anxiety and related behaviors, but individuals with high resilience may feel less eco-anxious and engage less in pro-environmental actions [46].

A broad array of research supports these interrelationships among eco-anxiety and pro-environmental responses. Verplanken et al. [40,47] suggested that under the stressful experience of eco-anxiety, individuals tend to embrace pro-ecological values, which in turn lead to more eco-friendly lifestyle choices and behaviors, while [48] determined that rising levels of eco-anxiety result in higher levels of environmental awareness and climate action. Ogunbode et al. [13] examined the potential effect of eco-anxiety on the behavior of an extensive and multi-cultural sample of 12,246 consumers from 32 nations. They found that young consumers adopted more sustainable behavioral patterns characterized by household energy conservation, frequent use of public transport, and evasion of food waste. Notably, the authors also postulated that eco-anxiety originates mostly from the substance rather than the sheer volume of environmental news, with detrimental global warming effects being far more impactful than proposals for pro-environmental measures. Nonetheless, it was further unveiled that the intensity of consumers’ reaction critically varied, with citizens in wealthier countries exhibiting a more pronounced eco-friendly mindset. Likewise, Leite et al. [49] assessed the relationship of pro-environmental behavior and climate change anxiety across political orientation and concluded that anxiety significantly influenced pro-environmental behaviors, and hope and despair moderated the relationship between anxiety and pro-environmental behavior. Mathers-Jones & Todd [4] studied how selective attention towards climate-related information and variability in this attention interferes in the relationship between eco-anxiety and sustainable behavior. The results showcased the role of anxiety in predicting pro-environmental behaviors in young adults, while demonstrating that attentional bias variability moderates eco-anxiety and behavior relationship and higher eco-anxiety leads to greater engagement when attention is stable. Qin et al. [50] studied the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior through the mediating role of future self-continuity and green self-efficacy; they found that climate change anxiety negatively correlates with pro-environmental behaviors in adolescents, while future self-continuity mediates the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors. Last, Becht et al. [9] explored how feeling anxious is related to pro-environmental behavior in Colombian and Dutch public based on three sequential studies. Their findings suggest that participants reported low-to-moderate climate anxiety and high pro-environmental behavior, climate anxiety positively predicts private-sphere pro-environmental behavior, while a curvilinear effect was found for climate anxiety and pro-environmental behavior, suggesting that climate anxiety can be adaptive for adolescents.

2.2. From Environmental Behavior to Green Consumerism

Green consumerism, or consumer behavior focused on environmentally friendly products and sustainable consumption, is a well-established and expanding area of academic focus, with numerous studies examining its drivers, barriers, and implications for marketing and sustainability. The field is multidisciplinary, global, and evolving, with ongoing research addressing both practical and theoretical challenges. Bibliometric and systematic reviews show a significant increase in publications on green consumerism, green marketing, and sustainable consumption, especially since 2015, with hundreds to thousands of articles analyzed in recent studies [51,52,53,54,55]. Research is global, with leading contributions from countries like China, Spain, and the USA, and involves collaboration across many institutions and disciplines [51,52,53,56].

Key research themes focus on what drives or hinders consumers to buy green products, including personal values, social norms, perceived benefits, and barriers such as price or lack of knowledge [15,54,55,57,58]. Research also explores how marketing strategies, eco-labeling, and company image influence green purchasing decisions [15,51,52,53,56]. More importantly, the intersection of green marketing and sustainable consumption is a hot topic, with research expanding into areas like eco-tourism, green product certification, and waste management [51,53,56,59].

Green consumerism is driven by a complex mix of personal, social, and contextual factors that specifically influence consumers’ choices to buy eco-friendly products and services. Key drivers include environmental awareness, personal values, product perceptions, social influence, and supportive policies. A strong understanding of environmental issues and personal commitment to sustainability are major motivators for green purchasing decisions [60,61,62,63,64]. Positive perceptions of eco-products, such as quality, benefits, and price fairness, significantly increase green purchase intentions [60,62,64]. Personal Values and Ethics: Intrapersonal values (both environmental and non-environmental), ethical ideologies, and anticipated emotions (pride, guilt) shape sustainable consumption [14,59,65]. Subjective norms, social pressure, and community engagement play a crucial role in encouraging green consumption [59,61,62,66]. Effective green marketing, transparent CSR initiatives, and firm sustainability reporting foster trust and drive green consumer behavior [62,63,65,66]. Supportive environmental and green consumption policies, as well as broader context-related factors (e.g., economic incentives, regulations), facilitate sustainable choices [14,63,64].

Although drivers of green consumerism and sustainable consumption are well-studied [14,15,16], little is known on how specific affective processes directly shape sustainable consumption intentions and behaviors, and how these are influenced by individual differences and contextual factors [18]. While environmental concerns are known to influence sustainable consumption, there is a lack of research on how these concerns translate into anticipated positive or negative emotions, and how these emotions, in turn, affect intentions to consume sustainably [18]. Likewise, the influence of the psychological process of consumer green purchase intention based on affective components is understudied and there is need for more research on how affective events (e.g., encountering greenwashing or excessive packaging) impact green purchase intentions through emotional responses [17]. Most systematic reviews and frameworks focus on behavioral, cognitive, and contextual drivers, with affective factors often underrepresented or not deeply examined [58,67].

Taken together, the evidence presented so far showcases that existing models of green consumption tend to emphasize awareness, attitudes, and social norms over emotional processes. Research on affective components like climate anxiety or other eco-emotions related to climate change is lacking. Only a few studies suggest that climate anxiety can positively influence sustainable consumption behaviors, such as sustainable eating, organic food consumption, and green purchasing decisions [19]. For instance, a study in Vietnam and Italy revealed that individuals experiencing climate anxiety are more likely to engage in sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption and supporting eco-friendly products [21]. Similarly, climate change anxiety has been shown to positively influence sustainable consumption by increasing environmental sensitivity and frugality, while reducing superfluous purchasing behaviors [68]. Personality traits play a crucial role in moderating the relationship between climate anxiety and sustainable consumption. For example, individuals with higher levels of emotionality, honesty/humility, and openness are more likely to engage in sustainable behaviors, indicating that personality-driven interventions could enhance green consumerism [20].

3. Methods: Literature Search Strategy and Data Extraction

Adhering to established guidelines like PRISMA 2020 and best practices from related literature [69,70,71], we implemented a four-step process involving question framing, study identification, evidence synthesis, and results interpretation to ensure a comprehensive and transparent synthesis of research.

• Question Framing. After establishing the review objective, the SPIDER tool (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type) was used to frame the review question and design the search approach [72].

  Table 1. The SPIDER framework adjusted to the review questions.

  (S) Ample	Adult and Young Individuals/General Population Samples
  (P) henomenon of (I) nterest	▪ Association between eco-anxiety and green consumption
  (D) esign	▪ Environmental behavioral economics setting ▪ Environmental psychology setting ▪ Gray literature
  (E) valuation	▪ Eco-anxiety ▪ Green consumption/intention
  (R) esearch Type	▪ Quantitative/observational/cross-sectional/mixed-methods/experimental peer-reviewed studies

  outlines the research questions adjusted to the SPIDER framework.
• Study identification includes literature search for all relevant studies using predefined strategies and databases. This step emphasizes comprehensive and unbiased retrieval of the literature, including peer-reviewed articles, gray literature, and agency reports, to avoid missing important data or introducing bias [73,74]. This step involves the establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria derived from the SIDER framework (refer to

  Table 2. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

  No	Criteria	Inclusion	Exclusion
  1	Type of studies	▪ Primary studies ▪ Empirical quantitative studies ▪ Mixed-methods studies	▪ Case–control studies ▪ Intervention study ▪ Structured or participant observation ▪ Cohort studies ▪ Review ▪ Systematic review and meta-analysis
  2	Type of population	▪ Adult and young adult individuals and/or general population	▪ Individuals aged <18 years
  3	Type of evaluations/constructs of interest	▪ Eco-anxiety measures ▪ Green consumption behavior/intention	▪ Exclude studies measuring other psychological factors ▪ Exclude studies measuring general pro-environmental behavior or intention
  4	Type of outcome	▪ Eco-anxiety measures predicting/relating to green consumption/intention	▪ Exclude if does not examine association of eco-anxiety and consumer behavior
  5	Limits	▪ English language ▪ Peer-reviewed ▪ Environmental context ▪ Gray literature	▪ Non-English language ▪ Non-peer-reviewed ▪ Non-environmental context

  for detailed eligibility criteria), which in turn result in the development of specific keywords and search strings based on Boolean logic to be used in specific databases. In this review, we implemented the search strategy in Scopus and Web of Science databases using the exact search strings presented in

  Table 3. Search queries and results.

  Database	Keywords/Search Strings (Boolean Logic)	Records
  Scopus	(TITLE-ABS-KEY(“eco-anxiety” OR “climate anxiety” OR “ecological anxiety”OR “climate distress” OR “eco distress”) AND (“sustainable consumption” OR “green consumption” OR “green consumerism” OR “sustainable consumer behavior” OR “environmentally responsible consumption”))	38
  Web of Science	TS = (“eco-anxiety” OR “climate anxiety” OR “environmental anxiety” OR “ecological distress” OR “eco-worry” OR “eco-emotions” OR “ecological grief” OR “ecological worry” OR “climate emotion”) AND TS = (“sustainable consumption” OR “green consumerism” OR “green consumption” OR “green purchase behavior” OR “consumer behavior” OR “consumption behavior” OR “buying behavior” OR “purchase intention” OR “sustainable purchasing” OR “green buying”) and Preprint Citation Index (Exclude–Database)	18
  Google Scholar (Gray Literature)	Key words and Query String: ALL(Eco-anxiety OR (climate AND anxiety)) AND (Consumption OR consumerism) AND (sustainable OR green)	5

  . Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, Figure 1 shows the flow diagram of the search strategy.
• At this stage, the data from the included studies are synthesized either quantitatively (meta-analysis) or qualitatively (narrative synthesis) [75]. The current review is qualitative by design to align with the initial core objective of a brief narrative review that assesses the impact of eco-anxiety on sustainable consumption. Evidence synthesis follows the screening of all the studies. We used the Rayyan web tool for systematic review to import the .ris files from Scopus and WoS, detect duplicates, and procced with the initial screening process of abstracts, titles, and keywords of all records (n = 56; refer to Figure 1). The final screening procedure entailed full-text evaluation of the records that passed the initial evaluation. Based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of only 7 studies were eligible. Due to the limited number of resulting records, we further employed a supplementary search of gray literature on Google Scholar to search for additional reports (search was limited to 5 first pages of results). The latter procedure revealed 5 new studies that met the inclusion criteria (Table 3).
• Finally, the findings are interpreted in the context of the original research question. This step is about discussing the implications, limitations, and relevance of the results, and includes recommendations for practice, policy, or future research [76]. Accordingly,

  Table 4. Overview of eligible studies.

  Authors and Publication Year	Database	Source Title	Country	Research Design	Data Analysis	Sample
  López-García et al. (2025) [43]	Scopus/WoS	Sustainability	Spain	Cross-sectional	CFA SEM	n = 308 young adults aged 18–30
  Bakó & Szeberényi (2025) [77]	Scopus	Journal of Sustainability Research	Hungary	Cross-sectional	Naive Bayes, logistic regression, and random forests,	N = 696 university students
  Korkmaz, Ilknur & Nil Esra (2024) [78]	WoS	Istanbul business research	Türkiye	Cross-sectional	PLS-SEM	n = 465
  Kohl (2022) ** [79]	Google Scholar	Jyväskylä University Library School of Business and Economics	Finland	Cross-sectional	χ2 tests	Total n = 2070 (343 under 30 years target group)
  Wesselow (2022) * [80]	Google Scholar	University of British Columbia, Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Sustainability Program, Student Research Report	Multi-cultural participation (Qualtrics survey/Study 1) Great Britain (Study 2)	Cross-sectional (Study 1) Quasi-experimental study (Study 2)	Pearson’s correlation Linear Regression t-tests χ2 tests	Study 1 n = 251 Study 2 n = 15,379 (sales data)
  Ecer et al. (2023) * [68]	Google Scholar	Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Journal of Social Sciences	Türkiye	Cross-sectional	SEM	n = 450
  Kabasakal-Cetin (2023) [19]	Scopus/WoS	Food Quality and Preference	Türkiye	Cross-sectional	Pearson correlational analysis Multiple regression analysis	n = 605
  Balaskas (2024) * [20]	Google Scholar	Psychology International	Greece	Cross-sectional	Hierarchical regression analysis	n = 604
  Balaskas & Komis (2025) [81]	Google Scholar	Psychology International	Greece	Cross-sectional	Bayesian Pearson correlation Bayesian regression approach	n = 604
  Sharma et al. (2024) [82]	Scopus/WoS	Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management	India Italy	Cross-sectional	PLS-SEM	Total n = 557 (316 from India; 241 from Italy).
  Wan et al. (2024) [83]	WoS	Journal of Cleaner Production	China	Experimental design	Mediation analysis (Process) t-tests	n = 198 (Study 1) n = 203 (Study 2)
  Nguyen et al. (2025) [21]	WoS	Business Strategy & Development	Vietnam Italy	Mixed-methods design	Semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation, and expert interviews PLS-SEM	n = 681

  Note. * Grey literature. ** Master’s Thesis.

  presents an overview of the 12 eligible studies, including information about authors, publication year, databases, journal/source, country, research design, data analysis, sample, basic study measures, and main results concerning the eco-anxiety–sustainable consumption relationship. In Section 4 and Section 5 we critically discuss the review results and make policy and future research recommendations.

4. Main Findings on Climate Anxiety and Green Consumerism

In addition to the narrative synthesis, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer version 1.6.20 to enhance the understanding of thematic connections within the literature. The network visualization (Figure 2) illustrates the co-occurrence of key terms related to eco-anxiety and sustainable consumption. Central terms such as study, eco-anxiety, sustainable consumption, and action indicate their prominence in the field, reflecting the core focus of recent research. Clusters formed around terms like eco-friendly product, intention, and emotion suggest the multidimensional nature of green consumerism, spanning psychological, behavioral, and emotional domains. The interconnections among these clusters highlight the complex relationships between emotional responses like eco-anxiety and consumer intentions or actions. This bibliometric mapping not only validates the themes discussed in the narrative review but also provides a broader perspective on how research is evolving around eco-anxiety and its implications for sustainable consumer behavior.

To complement the network visualization, a keyword density map was generated using VOSviewer to highlight the frequency and concentration of research focus within the literature (Figure 3). In this visualization, warmer colors (red and yellow) indicate areas of higher keyword occurrence, while cooler colors (green to blue) denote less frequent terms. The central prominence of terms such as study, eco-anxiety, consumer, and action reflects their critical role in the current discourse on eco-anxiety and sustainable consumption. Notably, the clustering around eco-friendly product and intention in a separate high-density area suggests a distinct but related stream of research focusing on consumer behavioral intentions. This density map reinforces the core findings of the narrative review, demonstrating that scholarly attention is intensifying around the psychological and behavioral impacts of eco-anxiety in the context of green consumerism.

Table 4 presents in brief the 12 eligible studies that were derived from the systematic literature search described in Section 3. Next, we synthesize and critically interpret the findings from the 12 eligible studies that examine the relationship between eco-anxiety and sustainable or green consumption. The review identifies overarching patterns, cultural nuances, and theoretical tensions. The findings illustrate the complex and varied ways in which eco-anxiety, climate change anxiety, and related emotional responses influence sustainable consumption behaviors across different cultural contexts. The results are organized into four thematic domains: (1) the prevalence and predictive role of eco-anxiety, (2) emotional and psychological mediators, (3) cross-cultural and demographic moderators, and (4) real-world consumer behavior outcomes. Last, we elaborate on how the results of the current review can inform policy and discuss recommendations for future research.

4.1. Prevalence and Predictive Role of Eco-Anxiety

Across the reviewed studies, eco-anxiety is shown to be both prevalent, especially among young adults, and significantly associated with shifts in consumer behavior. For instance, ref. [79] found that over one-third of Finnish respondents under 30 years old reported measurable levels of eco-anxiety. Importantly, this emotional response correlated with self-reported behavioral adaptations such as dietary changes and general consumer restraint. The results agree with findings by [43] in Spain, who reported that eco-anxiety and eco-worry both significantly predicted sustainable consumption intentions, especially in younger populations aged 18–30.

Other studies corroborate the positive association between eco-anxiety and consumer choices aligned with environmental goals. For example, [19] observed that Turkish university students with higher eco-anxiety scores were more likely to reduce meat consumption, prefer organic food, and engage in broader sustainability practices. Likewise, [68] confirmed this link, although they highlighted that older individuals reported lower eco-anxiety but engaged in more sustainable consumption, suggesting a potential discrepancy between emotional concerns and behavioral consistency. Collectively, these findings suggest that eco-anxiety functions as a cognitive–affective motivator for sustainable consumer choices. However, the strength and direction of this influence appear contingent on moderating psychological variables.

4.2. Emotional and Psychological Mediators

Several studies in the review highlight the mediating role of specific emotional constructs such as eco-guilt, eco-grief, and self-efficacy. For instance, ref. [20] found that HEXACO personality traits (particularly emotionality and honesty/humility) mediated the relationship between eco-anxiety and green behavior. Eco-guilt and eco-grief emerged as robust predictors of green intentions, especially when combined with personal exposure to climate-related events.

Ref. [21], through a mixed-methods study in Vietnam and Italy, identified “hyperopia”, or long-term environmental foresight, as a central cognitive–affective bridge between anxiety and sustainable behavior. Their study showed that anxiety alone did not lead to action unless supported by future-oriented thinking and trust in sustainable systems. This aligns with the [45] model, which posits that general self-efficacy mediates both pro-environmental action and eco-paralysis in individuals experiencing climate distress.

The dual pathways of eco-anxiety are further explored in [83]. In their experimental design, they differentiate between cognitive and affective components of climate anxiety. Cognitive eco-anxiety positively mediated the relationship between extreme heat and low-carbon behavior, while affective anxiety showed a curvilinear relationship, suggesting that only moderate affective anxiety levels were conducive to sustainable behavior, with very high levels dampening consumer action through emotional exhaustion. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that eco-anxiety can function as a double-edged psychological phenomenon: promoting action when moderate and cognitively oriented but potentially leading to paralysis or despair when overwhelming or affectively charged.

4.3. Cross-Cultural and Demographic Moderators

Several studies emphasize the cultural dimension of eco-anxiety’s effects on green consumerism. Ref. [82] in their comparative study of India and Italy, found that Indian participants were more responsive to guilt and regret in predicting eco-friendly consumption, whereas Italians tended to normalize or suppress climate-related anxieties. This underscores the role of cultural values in shaping the translation of eco-emotions into behavioral intentions.

Ref. [21] also found notable cross-cultural differences. In Vietnam, where collectivist values are strong, eco-anxiety translated more consistently into communal trust and sustainable consumption, compared to Italy, where individualistic framing of environmental problems led to more fragmented responses. These findings align with [13], who observed that citizens in wealthier countries exhibited stronger pro-environmental behaviors tied to anxiety, potentially due to higher environmental literacy and institutional trust.

Demographic moderators like age, gender, and education also played significant roles. Female participants in [19,20] showed higher eco-anxiety and greater behavioral responsiveness. Conversely, ref. [68] found no gender difference in anxiety levels but noted that age was inversely related to eco-anxiety and positively associated with sustainable consumption, indicating that older individuals may act more sustainably despite lower levels of distress. Thus, eco-anxiety’s influence is not universal but is modulated by socio-demographic variables and cultural context, making it imperative to design targeted interventions.

4.4. Real-World Consumer Behavior Outcomes

Real-world behaviors such as purchasing decisions, dietary choices, and lifestyle adaptations were influenced by eco-anxiety across several studies. Ref. [80] demonstrated that climate-friendly food labeling in university dining facilities influenced students’ food selections, with those scoring higher on eco-anxiety metrics being more responsive to sustainability cues. However, the effect was nuanced: only labels with strong visual cues significantly shifted behavior, highlighting the role of communication design in mobilizing eco-concern.

Ref. [82] reported that Indian consumers exposed to eco-guilt messaging exhibited a stronger intent to purchase green products than Italians. Still, overall purchase behavior remained weakly linked to anxiety unless accompanied by other affective reinforcers (e.g., regret, social comparison). Ref. [81] further showed that the eco-anxiety-to-consumption link is small and statistically fragile, with a Bayesian correlation of only 0.09—suggesting that eco-anxiety might be necessary but not sufficient for behavior change.

Interestingly, ref. [83] found that affective climate anxiety had no direct impact on low-carbon consumption unless moderated by cognitive engagement or mediated by trust. This finding supports previous work by [4,9], which emphasized the importance of sustained attention and perceived behavioral efficacy in transforming eco-emotion into meaningful action.

5. Interpretation and Policy Implications

The findings of this review suggest that eco-anxiety functions as a complex psychological construct with both constructive and detrimental implications for sustainable consumption behavior. Rather than acting as a direct behavioral trigger, eco-anxiety appears to operate through mediating variables such as self-efficacy, cognitive engagement, and emotional regulation [4,9,45]. When individuals believe their actions can make a difference, moderate levels of eco-anxiety can serve as a motivational force toward green consumer behaviors such as ethical purchasing, reduced consumption, or plant-based diets [5,11,19].

However, excessive eco-anxiety may undermine sustainable behavior by inducing emotional exhaustion, disengagement, or eco-paralysis, a psychological state characterized by inaction due to overwhelming concern [10,44]. In these cases, individuals may respond with denial, avoidance, or normalization strategies to reduce discomfort, as observed in studies conducted in Italy and India [21,82]. This highlights the necessity of targeting interventions not only at raising awareness but also at fostering psychological resilience and agency [32,35].

The review also underscores the importance of multidimensional climate advocacy strategies that incorporate emotional, personal, and social elements to foster greater climate engagement. Policymakers and environmental organizations are encouraged to design interventions that leverage specific emotions, such as using guilt to prompt immediate responses and grief to sustain long-term engagement. Additionally, tailored messaging that considers personality traits can increase the effectiveness of climate campaigns, targeting different emotional responses and demographic sensitivities [20]. These approaches aim to foster a more resilient and ecologically engaged population, ultimately contributing to solutions for climate change challenges.

From a policy perspective, this review emphasizes the need to integrate affective dimensions into climate communication and sustainability frameworks. Traditional rational models that rely solely on disseminating scientific facts are insufficient in promoting behavioral change, particularly among emotionally distressed individuals [27,84]. Instead, emotionally intelligent policies should incorporate mechanisms for processing eco-anxiety through accessible avenues for action, such as climate-focused community initiatives, participatory governance, and school-based environmental education [12,22,36].

Additionally, interventions that channel eco-anxiety through structured programs, such as eco-therapy, youth activism, or green innovation incubators, could help prevent maladaptive coping and cultivate collective efficacy [33,34]. Moreover, fostering “hope” and “climate efficacy” as counterbalances to anxiety is essential. Studies show that when eco-anxiety is coupled with optimism and solution-oriented messaging, pro-environmental behavior increases significantly [30,48,49].

In marketing and business strategy, the implications are equally salient. Eco-anxiety can be leveraged to develop emotionally resonant campaigns that build sustainable trust and consumer loyalty. For instance, highlighting the personal and societal impact of green consumption while simultaneously offering practical solutions may activate emotional engagement without triggering avoidance [21,46]. Brands aiming to align with sustainability values should therefore avoid fear-based messaging alone and instead promote collective responsibility and empowerment [63,85].

Finally, culturally tailored communication is crucial. As demonstrated in comparative studies [21,82], emotional responses like guilt or grief resonate differently across cultures. Policymakers and practitioners should consider these emotional and cultural variations to enhance the effectiveness of interventions. For instance, guilt appeals may be more effective in collectivist cultures (e.g., India), whereas in more individualist societies (e.g., Italy), future-oriented and agency-driven narratives may yield better results. This suggests that understanding cultural contexts and emotional responses is crucial for promoting sustainable consumer behavior across different regions.

In summary, eco-anxiety has the potential to be a powerful tool in promoting sustainable consumption if its affective complexity is acknowledged and appropriately managed. Addressing the psychological burden of climate change through multi-level, culturally sensitive, and emotionally aware interventions is essential for both individual wellbeing and ecological conservation.

6. Limitations and Future Research Recommendations

Despite the growing interest in the role of eco-anxiety in sustainable consumption, this review identified several limitations in the existing body of research. First, the predominant use of cross-sectional designs restricts causal inference [9,11]. Without longitudinal or experimental methodologies, it is difficult to determine whether eco-anxiety leads to sustainable consumption or whether engaging in such behaviors heightens anxiety, as some evidence of bidirectionality suggests [12].

Second, many studies rely heavily on self-reported measures of both eco-anxiety and sustainable behavior. This raises concerns about social desirability bias, inaccurate recall, and inflated reporting of pro-environmental attitudes or behaviors [31,41]. Moreover, few studies validated their measurement tools across different cultural contexts, despite the demonstrated influence of regional norms and values on both constructs [13,82].

A third limitation concerns conceptual conflation. Several studies treat sustainable consumption as a proxy for general pro-environmental behavior without distinguishing between private-sphere (e.g., household recycling) and public-sphere (e.g., activism, voting) actions. Given that eco-anxiety may differentially affect these behavior types, future research should disentangle these domains and develop more nuanced operational definitions [3,86].

Fourth, there is a notable geographic skew in the literature. Most empirical work is concentrated in Europe and East Asia, with underrepresentation from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. This imbalance limits the generalizability of findings and risks overlooking culturally specific manifestations of eco-anxiety and sustainable consumption behavior [21,32].

Fifth, the heterogeneity in measurement tools complicates comparisons across studies. While some employ validated scales such as the Climate Change Anxiety Scale [41] or Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale [7], others use ad hoc measures or adapt items without psychometric validation. This lack of standardization impedes meta-analytical synthesis and may explain discrepancies in effect sizes across similar populations.

Finally, most studies insufficiently account for moderating variables such as personality traits, media exposure, or political ideology. As shown by [20,49], traits like emotionality and political orientation can shape the intensity and outcomes of eco-anxiety. Similarly, resilient individuals may react differently to climate news than highly sensitive ones [8,46].

To address these limitations, future research should focus on cross-cultural studies, more deeply explore of under-researched product categories, use mixed-methods approaches, or adopt longitudinal and experimental designs [53,54,55,56]. Development and standardization of eco-anxiety and consumption metrics across cultures is also essential. Moreover, incorporating emotional complexity and interaction effects with other psychological constructs (e.g., hope, guilt, efficacy) will yield a more holistic understanding of the mechanisms linking climate distress and sustainable consumption.

Future research is encouraged to address the attitude/behavior gap, expand theoretical bases, and explore digital and AI-driven strategies for promoting green consumption [15,55,56]. The literature on green consumerism and sustainable consumption has not sufficiently addressed how affective drivers, especially anticipated emotions and affective events, shape consumer intentions and behaviors. Future research should focus on these emotional mechanisms and their interaction with individual and contextual factors to better understand and promote sustainable consumption. Additionally, further research should explore effective interventions that can help individuals reduce or cope with eco-anxiety, which would provide valuable insights for policymakers and mental health professionals. Expanding these studies to include various age groups and regions will also enhance our understanding of eco-anxiety’s broader impacts on consumer behavior [80].

Researchers are encouraged to investigate the impact of variables such as religion, education level, and generational factors on consumer guilt and regret. Additionally, examining how eco-anxiety interacts with brand preferences in various cultural settings could provide valuable insights into marketing strategies that effectively address climate concerns [21,82]. Future research should also focus on differences in sustainable behaviors between urban and rural populations within a given country, as local contexts may significantly influence individuals’ responses to climate change anxiety. Investigating more extreme forms of sustainable behavior, such as environmental activism or eco-fanaticism, could shed light on how individuals cope with climate anxiety.