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A social–ecological perspective on climate anxiety in children and adolescents

Abstract

Experiences of ‘climate anxiety’ are considered an adaptive response to a real threat, as well as a potential cause of impairment. To date, little attention has been paid to how children and adolescents may be uniquely predisposed to climate anxiety, despite being an age cohort particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This Review uses a social–ecological framework to identify the influences on climate anxiety for young people. We explore the directionality and interplay between individual factors, the physical environment and the influence of micro- (family, peers), meso- (school, community), exo- (government, media) and macro- (culture) systems on children’s and adolescents’ experience of climate anxiety. The Review highlights future research considerations and key issues relevant to professionals working with youth.

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Fig. 1: A social–ecological framework of climate anxiety for children and adolescents.

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Acknowledgements

T.J.C. is supported by a Child and Youth Mental Health Research Group PhD Scholarship. H.J.T. is supported by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, which is funded by the Queensland Department of Health.

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T.J.C. led the writing of the article, with J.G.S., F.J.C. and H.J.T. contributing to writing at all stages. All authors contributed to conceptualization and the editing process.

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Correspondence to Tara J. Crandon.

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Nature Climate Change thanks Susan Clayton, Katharine Lee and Ann Sanson for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Crandon, T.J., Scott, J.G., Charlson, F.J. et al. A social–ecological perspective on climate anxiety in children and adolescents. Nat. Clim. Chang. 12, 123–131 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01251-y

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