Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Literature Search
2.2. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria and Selection Process
2.3. Data Extraction and Quality Assessment
3. Results
3.1. Literature Search
3.2. Main Characteristics of Included Studies
3.3. Main Characteristics of Included Population
3.4. Mental Health Outcomes
3.5. Quality Assessment of Included Studies
4. Discussion
4.1. Potential Biological Mechanisms
4.2. Limitations and Strengths
4.3. Implications for Public Health Policies and Future Research
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Author, Year [Ref] | Country | Study Period | Study Design | Sample Size | Attrition | Population Characteristics | Climate Change Assessment | Validation | MH Outcome | Diagnostic Assessment | Effect Size (95% CI) p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barchielli, 2022 [31] | IT | n.a. | C-S | 1831 | n.a. | Access to electronic devices and internet connection; age 47.71; F 61% | 4-item 5-point Likert scale of an ad hoc questionnaire | Yes | Dep, Anx, and stress | DASS-21 | Climate change preoccupation was correlated with Dep and Anx in all age groups and with Anx among young adults and adults (Pearson ranged between 0.100 and 0.391, p < 0.01.) |
Gunasiri, 2022 [32] | AU | 13 July–3 August 2020 | C-S | 46 | 0 | Young people living in Australia; age 18–24; sex n.s. | Survey developed ad hoc | Yes | Worry about the future, eco-anxiety, stress, and Anx | Survey developed ad hoc | Worry about the future 93%; eco anxiety 89%; stress and anxiety 83% |
Kabir, 2018 [35] | BD | January 2015–October 2016 | C-S | 125 | n.a. | High-variety background; age 10–70; F 75, M 50 | Semi-structured interview | No | Feelings of loss and feelings of suicide ideation | Semi-structured interview | 75% of participants stated that climate change impacted daily activities and led to feelings of loss, thereby increasing feelings of suicide ideation. |
Leonhardt, 2022 [30] | NO | 2021 | C-S | 128,484 | 11,357 | Pupils; age 13–19; F: 60,959 | Single 5-point Likert scale questionnaire | No | DepSym and well-being | DMI derived from the HSCCW | DepSym: OR 1.71 (1.10–1.42) well-being: OR 0.91 (0.88–0.95) |
Lykins, 2023 [33] | AU | March 2020 | C-S | 746 | n.a. | Adolescents, young adults; age 16–25; F: 584, M: 152, 10 others | ETSEAI | Yes | Dep, Anx, stress, adjustment disorder, substance use, resilience | DASS-21; ADNM8, UNCOPE, BRS | Dep (r = 0.15, p < 0.001); Anx (r = 0.11, p < 0.01); stress (r = 0.19, p < 0.001); adjustment disorder (r = 0.21, p < 0.001); substance use (r = 0.10, p > 0.05); resilience (r = −0.14, p < 0.001) |
Middleton, 2020 [34] | CA | November 2012–May 2013 | C-S | 116 | n.a. | 96 community members + 20 health professionals; 68 F, 48 M | Semi-structured interview | No | Mental well-being | Semi-structured interview | Climate change impacts environmental conditions, which in turn determines daily activities, indirectly affecting mental well-being. |
Schwartz, 2022 [28] | USA | October and December 2020 | C-S | 323 | 12% (284/323 provided completed data on all variables) | Students; age 18–35; F 78.9%; transgender, non-binary, or other 2.1% | 3-item 5-point Likert scale for climate change experience and 13-item Climate Change Anxiety Scale | Yes | Cognitive and functional impairment in CCA, MDD, GAD | PHQ-8 for MDD, GAD-7 | MDD β = 0.11 (0.36), p > 0.05; cognitive impairment β = 1.53 (0.76), p < 0.05; GAD β = 0.37 (0.34), p > 0.05; functional impairment β = 1.85 (0.72), p < 0.05 |
Temte, 2019 [29] | USA | 2013 | C-S | 571 | n.a. | Adult primary care patients; age 18–96; M 183, F 357 | Climate change composite score | No | Dep, Anx, and dysphoria | PHQ-9, GAD-7, and a combination of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 | Dep (Chi-square = 0.178, n.s.) and Anx (Chi-square = 0.441, n.s.), dysphoria: r = 0.345, p < 0.001) |
Verplanken, 2013 [26] | USA and EU | June 2012–July 2012 | C-S | 132 | n.a. | Students and non-students; age 26; 39 M, 78 F, 15 not declared | 5-item 5-point Likert scale | Yes | Ecological worries, including global warming, pollution, extinction of species, resource depletion, and deforestation | PSWQ for item “pathological worry,” B5I for item “big five personality traits,” EAI for item “enviromental attitudes” | Habitual ecological worry and environmental attitudes (r = 0.47; p < 0.001), pro-environmental behavior (r = 0.37; p < 0.001) |
Weierstall-Pust, 2022 [27] | DE | April–May 2022 | C-S | 3094 | n.a. | Adults (≥ 18 years) with fluent German and access to internet; F = 1560 M = 1534 | 5 items 5-point Likert scale climate change stressors | Yes | Stress symptoms | SSQ-25 | β = 0.06 (0.03) p < 0.001 |
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Gianfredi, V.; Mazziotta, F.; Clerici, G.; Astorri, E.; Oliani, F.; Cappellina, M.; Catalini, A.; Dell’Osso, B.M.; Pregliasco, F.E.; Castaldi, S.; et al. Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14, 215-229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14010014
Gianfredi V, Mazziotta F, Clerici G, Astorri E, Oliani F, Cappellina M, Catalini A, Dell’Osso BM, Pregliasco FE, Castaldi S, et al. Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education. 2024; 14(1):215-229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14010014
Chicago/Turabian StyleGianfredi, Vincenza, Francesco Mazziotta, Giovanna Clerici, Elisa Astorri, Francesco Oliani, Martina Cappellina, Alessandro Catalini, Bernardo Maria Dell’Osso, Fabrizio Ernesto Pregliasco, Silvana Castaldi, and et al. 2024. "Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature" European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 14, no. 1: 215-229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14010014