Eco-anxiety among Children and Young People: Systematic Review of Social, Political, and Geographical determinants

Eco-anxiety refers to distress arising from environmental degradation, especially concerning climate change, with children and young people (CYP) likely to be particularly susceptible. This systematic review examined social, political, and geographic factors associated with eco-anxiety among CYP. We searched 11 databases, Google Scholar and pre-print servers up to August 2024, and citations to January 2025. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). 69 studies (42 quantitative, 16 qualitative, 11 mixed-methods) were included in the narrative synthesis. Most studies used non-probability sampling, limiting generalisability, and were from the Global North. Findings were grouped into three categories of determinants: social (age, gender, media exposure, socioeconomic and educational contexts, intergenerational relations, peer and cultural norms), political (distrust, government inaction, individual views, and participation), and geographic (exposure to environmental hazards, cross-country differences, urban or rural residence). Further study is needed to understand how eco-anxiety develops and varies globally, particularly regarding how social, political and geographic factors intersect, and its impacts on mental health and wellbeing.