Eco-Anxiety in the Younger Generation: Mental Health Impact of Climate Change Across Age Groups in a Blood Donor Sample

Federica Marcolini, Jana Kyra Rocholl, Silvia Tempia Valenta, Barbara Ferrari, Matteo Di Vincenzo, Andrea Fiorillo, Diana De Ronchi and Anna Rita Atti

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2026, vol. 72, issue 3, 687-700

Abstract: Introduction: Climate change poses a serious threat to fundamental human needs, including access to water, air, food, and housing. It also contributes to a range of mental health risks. Among its psychological impacts, eco-anxiety, defined by the American Psychological Association as a chronic fear of environmental doom, is receiving increasing attention. Although awareness of eco-anxiety is growing, research on this phenomenon remains limited, especially in countries like Italy, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identifies as especially vulnerable to the consequences of global warming. Methods: This study investigated the prevalence of eco-anxiety in a sample of healthy Italian adults recruited among voluntary blood donors, focusing on its distribution across generational cohorts. In May 2024, an online questionnaire was administered via QR code to members of AVIS (Associazione Volontari Italiani Sangue) in Bologna. A total of 1,795 participants (1,060 males, 727 females, 8 non-binary) took part, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years (M = 46.6). Eco-anxiety was assessed using the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS). Results: The sample showed a median HEAS score of 4.0 (IQR = 8.0). Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed significant differences across generational cohorts ( p  

Keywords: youth; mental health; eco-anxiety; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:3:p:687-700

DOI: 10.1177/00207640251380066

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