Climate change anxiety is an increasingly widespread phenomenon that is gaining considerable attention in the scientific community and society. Although its prevalence is increasing, the potential causes and consequences of this anxiety have not yet been fully understood. comprehensively understood. A recent extensive meta-analysis entitled "Climate change anxiety: A meta-analysis", published in September 2025 in the prestigious journal Global Environmental Change, provides a further insight into our understanding.

This groundbreaking study synthesizes findings from 94 previous studies involving 170,747 adult participants from 27 countries worldwide. The meta-analysis examined 33 correlates of climate change anxiety to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge about this increasingly relevant psychological phenomenon.

Key findings and anxiety dynamics

The meta-analysis yielded several fundamental findings, which shed significant light on the nature and impacts of climate change anxiety:

• Demographic susceptibility: Certain population groups are demonstrably more susceptible to experiencing anxiety about climate change.
• Impact on well-being: Anxiety about climate change is consistently and negatively associated with overall well-being and the mental health of the individual.
• Motivation for action: Paradoxically, this form of anxiety is positively associated with engagement in climate action.
• Conceptual difference: Study confirms that climate change anxiety is conceptually different from generalized anxiety disorder, indicating its specific nature and distinct correlates.

Factors influencing climate change anxiety

The study identified in detail several demographic, psychological, and cognitive factors that are associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing climate change anxiety:

• Younger individuals: It has been shown that younger people are more prone to experiencing this anxiety.
• Women: A meta-analysis found that women are more likely to experience anxiety about climate change.
• Personality traits: Individuals with higher levels of neuroticism are more prone to this form of anxiety.
• Political beliefs: People with left-wing political views show higher levels of anxiety about climate change.
• Environmental and future concerns: Individuals who are highly concerned about the future or the state of the environment experience higher levels of anxiety.
• Exposure to information and consequences: Frequent exposure to information about climate change and perceived exposure to its consequences are also strong predictors of anxiety.

In addition to these factors, the meta-analysis highlights that belief in climate change, risk perception associated with it and perceived consensus among climate scientists are positively associated with climate change anxiety. This means that deeper beliefs about the reality and severity of climate change and awareness of the scientific consensus increase the level of anxiety experienced.

Impacts on well-being and potential for climate action

Although climate change anxiety is a burden on mental well-being and is negatively associated with it, the study found a key paradox: it is also a positive motivator for participation in climate actionsThis finding is extremely important because it suggests that rather than paralysis or passivity, anxiety can motivate individuals to proactively engage in solutions and mitigation measures. The associations of climate change anxiety with well-being and engagement in action even surpass those associated with generalized anxiety., which underlines its specific function and potential.

Implications for support and future research

The results of this comprehensive meta-analyses have fundamental implications for society and for the direction of future research. It is essential identify and provide support to vulnerable groups, who are more susceptible to experiencing anxiety about climate change, in order to protect their mental health. At the same time, it is crucial to find effective strategies, such as channel this anxiety into constructive and proactive climate action, turning a potential negative feeling into a catalyst for positive change and engagement. The authors also emphasize the need for further research to better understand this phenomenon and its long-term impacts on individuals and society. Additional online materials, code, and data are also available for those interested in the Open Science Framework.

A meta-analysis of climate change anxiety provides a complex and nuanced view of this growing phenomenon, identifying key demographic, psychological and cognitive predictors. While climate change anxiety poses a challenge to mental well-being, it also appears to be a strong and unique motivator for engagement in climate actionUnderstanding these complex connections is key to developing effective strategies to support individuals and to transform anxiety into meaningful and constructive action in the fight against the urgent climate crisis. Spring