By Emma Tkach
Climate anxiety is an increasingly relevant topic in mental health, particularly as it pertains to young people (defined by the WHO as people aged 10-24 years old). A study published last year, examining climate change anxiety in young people across 10 different countries found that 59% reported being extremely worried about climate change, 84% reported being moderately worried and nearly half reported that their feelings of concern were affecting their daily functioning. Substantiated definitions of climate anxiety in mental health literature currently remain scarce, but it can be generally understood as “heightened distress related to the climate crisis that is characterised by a constellation of strong and interconnected emotions such as worry, fear, sadness, anger, and powerlessness” (Galway and Field, pp. 1, 2023). This definition sheds a negative light on climate anxiety, but perceptions of climate anxiety could be changed by understanding it as an adaptive response, while also highlighting the importance of empathizing with and validating young people’s experiences.
Anxiety itself is not indicative of a mental health disorder, and in general, it can serve as a motivating mechanism for people to respond to threats positively and adaptively. Climate anxiety is therefore not signifying a mental health disorder, but could rather be understood as describing an emotional reaction which can lead to both adaptive and maladaptive responses (Clayton, 2020). Such responses are generally understood as pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) and eco-paralysis, respectively. PEBs may be associated with youth climate activism movements such as school walkouts (e.g. Fridays for Future, a global youth movement which questions the paradox of educating children to succeed in a world which may be wholly undermined and disrupted by the effects of climate change), young people’s activism calling for systemic changes (for a recent list of inspiring youth climate activists, see here), and youth engagement with more sustainable behaviours such as shopping second-hand, supporting more sustainable travel, and eating fewer animal products.
While the impact of social factors on differential responses to climate anxiety cannot be overlooked, research examining the psychological factors associated with climate anxiety has delineated self-efficacy as a key mediating principle affecting people’s responses: Greater self-efficacy is associated with adaptive (PEB) responses whereas lower self-efficacy is associated with maladaptive (eco-paralysis) responses. PEB’s are understood as behaviours that individuals choose to maximize their positive impact on their environment, while minimizing their negative impact. Responding to climate anxiety by exhibiting PEBs may connect to the actions of young climate activists. Specifically, PEB’s could be understood as climate activism, thus highlighting the association between climate anxiety and climate activism. Young people’s mental health and feelings of self-efficacy may be at the centre of this association, and should be considered when recognizing the positive effects that young people are having on climate action. Furthermore, recognizing this association aids in understanding what drives climate activism in some young people – the underlying emotions may be climate anxiety, and it is therefore exceedingly important to continue supporting young people in these efforts, both emotionally and socially, but also systemically and structurally.
Importantly, understanding young people’s climate anxiety as an emotional reaction leading to differential behavioral responses does not pathologize climate anxiety. Harmful impacts of pathologizing climate anxiety could be the diminishment of individuals’ agency, the utilization of ineffective mental health interventions, and the initiation of a narrative that disempowers youth in the context of climate change, when clearly this is not the case. It is vital to recognize the great agency and ability of young people to combat climate change: Youth are now the most commonly cited demographic group when it comes to climate activism, says one recent report. Moreover, pathologizing climate anxiety on a societal level could increase the disease burden on an already strained mental health system, impact political will regarding climate change, exacerbate existing health inequities, and contribute to increasing the costs of mental health problems on societies, which is estimated to be nearly $5 trillion USD globally based on a Lancet report from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study.
Despite these insights about climate anxiety and climate activism, significant barriers to youth empowerment remain, which prevent not only young people, but people a part of demographic minorities, from entering leadership arenas and gaining decision making power. The global imbalance of power and leadership is poignantly un-diverse, and unrepresentative of young people in the world. An article from 2019 published the profiles of world leaders and political elites, reporting the following data: 92% of top world elites are male, the average age of is 61, 37% are fluent in English – with nearly half being educated in the West – and only 2% have a working-class background. Clearly, the inequality in power around the world is defined by more than age alone, and consequently, the marginalisation of populations is similarly multi-factorial. Young people around the world will face varying levels of relegation in their attempts to gain power, decision making ability and leadership in the arenas that count when it comes to climate change.
As younger generations navigate these structural challenges, climate activism and climate anxiety, understanding the interplay between these experiences may help to support youth and their well-being. Importantly, young people’s mental health must be considered and supported as they engage with the world around them and advocate for change. Through empathy and validation, youth may be better supported to take action, maintain or improve their mental health, and avoid lasting negative impacts from climate anxiety. It seems that we are at an inflection point in the arenas of youth activism and mental health; young people’s voices are being increasingly heard, and through support, empowerment and understanding, it may be possible to promote youth mental health, support activist movements and change trajectories for the future.
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