Ecoanxiety, children worried about the future of the planet

Worry, sadness, anger: these are just some of the emotions most associated by children withanxiety about the future of the planet.
95% of the girls and boys interviewed say they are worried about the future of the environment and more than one in 3 (40%) report having had a bad dream about climate change or the environment in danger and having struggled to sleep or eat because of this thought.
This is what emerges from the results of a recent Italian study, unique in the international scientific panorama, born in the context of the educational project of Scuolattiva Onlus “A Scuola di Acqua”, carried out nine years ago in collaboration with the Sanpellegrino Group and dedicated to raising awareness among the youngest on the topics of hydration and environmental sustainability.
Research conducted under the scientific supervision of the Health Psychology Laboratory of the Department of Nervous System and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Pavia, and in collaboration with Triplepact Società Benefit, provided for the administration of a survey carried out using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) methodology and involved a sample of approximately 1000 children between 5 and 11 years old.
Various international research has suggested a division into three categories to understand how climate change affects mental health: direct, indirect and vicarious impacts. So far, much of the scientific research has focused on direct impacts, those that occur after extreme climate events such as floods, earthquakes or hurricanes. However, more and more people are experiencing a sense of anxiety related to the global climate crisis even without being directly or indirectly affected. This also emerges clearly in the ScuolAttiva study: ecoanxiety in children is not necessarily related to real experiences, but rather is the result of communication and information on climate change issues which influence the perception of the problem by the little ones. In other words, just learning about the consequences of climate change through the media can influence mental health.
Despite the state of marked concern, children feel closely connected to the environment (in 78% of cases) and their approach to the phenomenon is not passive but, on the contrary, characterized by a strong spirit of protagonism and motivation to act: almost all of the sample perceives themselves directly responsible for the situation (95.6%) and thinks that their contribution can make a difference (97.2%). Not only that, in the eyes of children, the solution lies in everyone’s participation: even adults, in whom 72% of the youngest trust is placed, must actively contribute to the health of the Planet. The study therefore underlines the importance of promoting the engagement of new generations in protecting the environment and combating climate change through training and awareness-raising initiatives.
“Witnessing the consequences of climate change can generate suffering and worries about the future, along with a sense of helplessness and frustration at the inability to stop this phenomenon or make a difference. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly necessary to invest in training and awareness-raising initiatives that promote the empowerment of citizens and, above all, of the new generations, regarding the value of the behavior of each of us in combating the effects of climate change. This may protect people from experiencing eco-anxiety, which is obviously not a medical condition but nevertheless represents a risk factor for mental health disorders. It is in fact a stress factor that can push individuals to react to anxiety by changing not only their daily behavior, but also their perspective on the world and expectations for the future” underlines Professor Serena Barellodirector of the Health Psychology laboratory of the Department of Nervous System and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Pavia, scientific coordinator of the study.
A specialized literature is rapidly emerging on eco-anxiety in adults, but very little is known about how young people, and especially children, experience awareness of climate change. This lack of scientific evidence makes it difficult to develop preventive interventions aimed at combating this phenomenon in children.
In summary, the study highlighted a deep emotional connection of the little ones with the future of the planet, characterized by worry, sadness and anger. Despite this state of marked concern, children feel involved and responsible, firmly believing that their contribution can make a difference. The research highlights the importance of actively involving new generations in protecting the environment and combating climate change.
And the teachers? The photograph taken of five hundred teachers mirrors the data provided by the children, albeit with some more pessimistic notes. For example, the sense of efficacy in tackling environmental challenges personally is strong in only one person in 10. Furthermore, unlike a large majority of children who declare that they trust adults to manage the climate challenge and environmental, only 2 teachers out of 10 declare themselves confident in the institutions in this sense. However, the majority firmly believes in the value of educational initiatives aimed at increasing people’s awareness of the value of their individual contribution to combating environmental challenges.