Climate Change Anxiety

Climate change anxiety (CCA) is an emerging concept within the broader field of environmental psychology, closely related to eco-anxiety, a psychoterratic syndrome characterized by a generalized reaction to the deteriorating state of planetary ecosystems. CCA is proposed to encompass anxiety-related symptoms in response to climate change, serving as an adaptive response to prepare for potential threats. However, the lack of an official clinical definition raises debates about the legitimacy of pathologizing what might be an adaptive response to a worsening global issue. While some evidence suggests that CCA can motivate intentions and actions, results are mixed, with the potential for opposite effects depending on contextual and cognitive factors. Recent studies have begun to explore the relationship between CCA and its subdimensions with intentions to act and actual behaviors, but findings remain inconclusive. This highlights the need for further investigation into the drivers and causes of CCA, its relationship with general anxiety, and its role in fostering climate change adaptation.

This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding and characterization of CCA, particularly its relationship with contextual social, geographical, and cognitive factors. The goal is to explore the adaptive nature of CCA and its potential to motivate climate change adaptation. Specific questions include how CCA relates to other eco-emotions, such as eco-fear and eco-anger, and how it interacts with self and collective efficacy in predicting and mediating responses to climate change. Additionally, the research seeks to understand the development of CCA in vulnerable contexts and the neuro-cognitive factors that may influence its manifestation. By addressing these questions, the research aims to provide insights into the complex interplay between CCA, intentions, and behaviors, ultimately contributing to more effective climate change adaptation strategies.

To gather further insights into the multifaceted nature of CCA, the collection welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Relationship with other eco-emotions (e.g., differential effects of eco-fear and eco-anger)
• Relationship with self and collective efficacy in predicting and mediating CCA
• CCA development in vulnerable contexts
• Neuro-cognitive factors related to CCA
• Research that sheds light on the relationship between CCA, intentions, and actual behaviors

Methodological robustness, transparency, and replicability of practices are prioritized in selecting studies, ensuring that the research contributes valuable and reliable insights into the understanding of climate change anxiety.

Keywords: climate change anxiety, eco-sustainability, eco-emotions, psychoterratic syndromes, climate change adaptation, mood regulation, efficacy, perception

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.