Scientists from the University of East Anglia and the University of Bath in the United Kingdom have found that climate change is linked to the development of a new form of anxiety in some people. Research results published In Lancet Planetary Health.
Approximately 10 thousand teenagers and young people from 10 countries participated in the research. The researchers collected information about participants’ mental health and asked them to talk about their concerns about climate change.
Nearly 59% of respondents reported feeling anxious when thinking about the environmental situation on the planet in the future. Moreover, 45% said obsessive thoughts about climate change worsened their quality of life.
Scientists explained that this type of mental stress can be classified as a subtype of anxiety disorder. Researchers have described this as “climate anxiety.” People with this disorder may be overly influenced by controlling weather conditions, conducting research on climate change, and engaging in radical activism. In the most extreme cases, climate anxiety can impair the ability to carry out daily activities and tasks.
It is stated that psychotherapy helps to identify and eliminate the causes of anxiety in classical anxiety disorder. However, since a problem such as global warming cannot be solved by one person alone, it is almost impossible to gain a sense of trust and have control over the situation.
Previous scientists warned About larger locust outbreaks due to climate change.