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Climate change impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of young people: A scoping review of risk and protective factors

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  • Ma, Tianyi
  • Moore, Jane
  • Cleary, Anne

Abstract

The impact of climate change on the mental health of young people is poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to climate change exerts a disproportionate mental health burden on young people. An understanding of the risk factors (RFs) and protective factors (PFs) that affect the likelihood of mental health impacts arising from exposure to climate change is required to support youth wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Tianyi & Moore, Jane & Cleary, Anne, 2022. "Climate change impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of young people: A scoping review of risk and protective factors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:301:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622001940
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114888
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    3. Anastasia Gkargkavouzi & George E. Halkos, 2026. "Psychological Resilience to Climate Change: The Role of Self‐Efficacy, Mindfulness, Perceived Nature Restorativeness, and Subjective Well‐Being," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 1435-1457, March.
    4. Wang, Mingzhe & Huang, Hai & Xiong, Jie & Yuan, Zhe & Zeng, Keya, 2023. "Impact of ecological reserves on the local residents’ health: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    5. Cooper, Madison E. & Cunsolo, Ashlee & Aylward, Breanne & Yamamoto, Shelby S. & Harper, Sherilee L., 2025. "“Feeling your emotions is an act of rebellion:” How climate cafés across Canada support youth wellbeing during the climate crisis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 376(C).
    6. Breanne Aylward & Ashlee Cunsolo & Susan Clayton & Kelton Minor & Madison Cooper & Susan Chatwood & Sherilee L. Harper, 2026. "Climate change anxiety in daily life: prevalence and distribution among young people in Canada," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Dekila Chungyalpa & Pilar E. Gauthier & Robin I. Goldman & M. Vikas & Christine D. Wilson-Mendenhall, 2025. "A Framework for Deep Resilience in the Anthropocene," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 49-64, April.

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