IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/climat/v178y2025i9d10.1007_s10584-025-04008-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Temperature rising is threatening adolescent mental health in China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhuang Hao

    (Beihang University
    Beihang University)

  • Xinhai Yuan

    (Beihang University)

  • Yang Xie

    (Beihang University
    Beihang University)

Abstract

Climate change impacts human health throughout the human life cycle. Previous studies have confirmed that climate change, particularly temperature fluctuations, significantly affects adults’ mental health. However, studies regarding the impact on adolescents are still lacking. This is particularly worrying because adolescents may be more susceptible to the effects of ambient temperature than adults due to their physical and emotional immaturity and vulnerability. In this paper, we found that exposure to higher average temperatures over the past 1 month to the past 12 months worsened adolescents’ mental health, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, using data from 2010 to 2014 China Family Panel Studies. This effect is robust to alternative measures of mental health. In addition, subgroup analyses suggest that younger adolescents and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds may be more vulnerable to temperature changes. We recommend developing public policies to help adolescents adapt to temperature changes, particularly for younger adolescents and those from underprivileged families.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuang Hao & Xinhai Yuan & Yang Xie, 2025. "Temperature rising is threatening adolescent mental health in China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(9), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:178:y:2025:i:9:d:10.1007_s10584-025-04008-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-04008-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10584-025-04008-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10584-025-04008-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ranson, Matthew, 2014. "Crime, weather, and climate change," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 274-302.
    2. Oswald, Andrew J, 1997. "Happiness and Economic Performance," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 107(445), pages 1815-1831, November.
    3. KNIGHT, John & SONG, Lina & GUNATILAKA, Ramani, 2009. "Subjective well-being and its determinants in rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 635-649, December.
    4. Emily Oster, 2019. "Unobservable Selection and Coefficient Stability: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 187-204, April.
    5. Gege Nie & Jun Yang & Yuqing Zhang & Xiangming Xiao & Jianhong (Cecilia) Xia & Xiaoyu Cai & Chunli Li, 2024. "Duration of exposure to compound daytime-nighttime high temperatures and changes in population exposure in China under global warming," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Nick Obradovich & James H. Fowler, 2017. "Climate change may alter human physical activity patterns," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 1-7, May.
    7. John Knight & Ramani Gunatilaka, 2011. "Does Economic Growth Raise Happiness in China?," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 1-24.
    8. Melissa Dell & Benjamin F. Jones & Benjamin A. Olken, 2009. "Temperature and Income: Reconciling New Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 99(2), pages 198-204, May.
    9. Yue Hua & Yun Qiu & Xiaoqing Tan, 2023. "The effects of temperature on mental health: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1293-1332, July.
    10. Karlsson, Martin & Ziebarth, Nicolas R., 2018. "Population health effects and health-related costs of extreme temperatures: Comprehensive evidence from Germany," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 93-117.
    11. Obradovich, Nicholas & Fowler, James H., 2017. "Climate change may alter human physical activity patterns," Scholarly Articles 36874928, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    12. Zhang, Xin & Zhang, Xiaobo & Chen, Xi, 2017. "Happiness in the air: How does a dirty sky affect mental health and subjective well-being?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 81-94.
    13. Mullins, Jamie T. & White, Corey, 2019. "Temperature and mental health: Evidence from the spectrum of mental health outcomes," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    14. Hsiang, Solomon M & Burke, Marshall & Miguel, Edward, 2013. "Quantifying the Influence of Climate on Human Conflict," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt28c3c631, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
    15. Marshall Burke & Felipe González & Patrick Baylis & Sam Heft-Neal & Ceren Baysan & Sanjay Basu & Solomon Hsiang, 2018. "Higher temperatures increase suicide rates in the United States and Mexico," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(8), pages 723-729, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tanaka, Shinsuke & Matsubayashi, Tetsuya, 2025. "The light of life: The effects of sunlight on suicide," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Siganos, Antonios, 2024. "Climate theory & managerial decisions on cross-border mergers," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    3. Churchill, Brandyn F. & Srivastava, Sparshi, 2025. "Effects of environmental exposures on weight-related health behaviors and outcomes," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Wang, Meng & Zhang, Shiying, 2024. "High temperatures and traffic accident crimes: Evidence from more than 470,000 offenses in China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    5. Bui, Thanh-Huong & Bui, Ha-Phuong & Pham, Thi Mai-Anh, 2024. "Effects of temperature on job insecurity: Evidence from Australia," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 264-276.
    6. Benedikt Janzen, 2022. "Temperature and Mental Health: Evidence from Helpline Calls," Papers 2207.04992, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2022.
    7. Li, Xue & Smyth, Russell & Yao, Yao, 2023. "Extreme temperatures and out-of-pocket medical expenditure: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Hajdu, Tamás, 2024. "Temperature exposure and sleep duration: Evidence from time use surveys," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Mullins, Jamie T. & White, Corey, 2019. "Temperature and mental health: Evidence from the spectrum of mental health outcomes," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    10. Ampofo, Akwasi & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Baako, Kingsley & Kavaarpuo, Godwin, 2025. "Burning the Australian dream: Temperature shocks and homeownership in Australia," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    11. Yue Hua & Yun Qiu & Xiaoqing Tan, 2023. "The effects of temperature on mental health: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1293-1332, July.
    12. Li, Haoyang & Chen, Yifeng & Ma, Mingming, 2024. "Temperature and life satisfaction: Evidence from Chinese older adults," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    13. Bigler, Patrick & Janzen, Benedikt, 2024. "Too hot to sleep," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    14. Manuela Fritz, 2025. "Beyond the heat: The mental health toll of temperature and humidity in India," Papers 2503.08761, arXiv.org.
    15. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2022. "Energy poverty, temperature and climate change," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    16. Zhang, Xin & Zhang, Xiaobo & Chen, Xi, 2017. "Happiness in the air: How does a dirty sky affect mental health and subjective well-being?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 81-94.
    17. George Cunningham & Brian P. McCullough & Shelby Hohensee, 2020. "Physical activity and climate change attitudes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 61-74, March.
    18. Gong, Jiaowei & Shi, Xiangyu & Wang, Chang & Zhang, Xin, 2025. "Extreme high temperatures and adaptation by social dynamics: Theory and evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    19. Yu Shen & Wenkai Sun, 2025. "The winter depression: coal heating and mental health in China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 1-32, March.
    20. Almås, Ingvild & Auffhammer, Maximilian & Bold, Tessa & Bolliger, Ian & Dembo, Aluma & Hsiang, Solomon M & Kitamura, Shuhei & Miguel, Edward & Pickmans, Robert, 2019. "Destructive Behaviour, Judgement and Economic Decision-making under Thermal Stress," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt4m6005f0, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:178:y:2025:i:9:d:10.1007_s10584-025-04008-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.