Youth and Climate Change: ECO-ANXIETY ON THE RISE

Author: ​Annabelle Davis

As the awareness of climate change grows, so does concern over its psychological impact, especially on young people. As one of the most persistent and widespread issues of our generation, climate change is now causing many people to feel the pressures of an increasingly climate-changed world. The research article “Psychological Impacts of Climate Change on Youth,” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, surveyed 2,834 youth from across the United States on how they perceive the threat of climate change.

Overall, the survey found that the majority of American youth “experience moderate climate distress and some functional interference”. Commonly, people reported feelings of concern, anxiousness, and frustration. Additionally, many reported that their feelings towards climate change have or will impact future decision making. Clearly, the perceived as well as current threats posed by climate change are psychologically affecting youth across the country, a phenomenon commonly referred to as eco-anxiety or climate distress.

​While eco-anxiety and climate distress aren’t clinical diagnoses, they represent feelings of impending disaster surrounding environmental issues. Moreover, while these terms have been coined to explain feelings surrounding the climate, they can often “act as a stressor to precipitate or exacerbate symptoms of mental ill-health and impair daily functioning.” 
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Climate change is not just a physical threat, but a psychological one as well. This research shines light on just how extensive climate change impacts American youth. To best prepare and protect the next generation, we must acknowledge the effects of climate change as a whole. 

Citation: 
A. Vercammen, B. Wray, Y.S. Crider, G. Belkin, & E.L. Lawrance, Psychological impacts of climate change on US youth, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (16) e2311400122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2311400122 (2025).