Climate Changes, Natural Resources Depletion, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Russian-Ukrainian War: What Is the Impact on Habits Change and Mental Health?

Benedetta Barchielli, Clarissa Cricenti, Francesca Gallè (), Elita Anna Sabella, Fabrizio Liguori, Giovanna Da Molin, Giorgio Liguori, Giovanni Battista Orsi, Anna Maria Giannini, Stefano Ferracuti and Christian Napoli
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Benedetta Barchielli: Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
Clarissa Cricenti: Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesca Gallè: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Elita Anna Sabella: Inter-University Research Centre “Population, Environment and Health”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Cesare Battisti 1, 70122 Bari, Italy
Fabrizio Liguori: Family Psychotherapy Academy, Via Raffaele Morghen 181, 80129 Naples, Italy
Giovanna Da Molin: Inter-University Research Centre “Population, Environment and Health”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Cesare Battisti 1, 70122 Bari, Italy
Giorgio Liguori: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Giovanni Battista Orsi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria Giannini: Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy
Stefano Ferracuti: Department of Human Neuroscience, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Christian Napoli: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: Climate Change, Natural Resources Depletion, COVID-19, and Wars are some of the great challenges of our time. The consequences will affect psychological well-being and could have a harmful impact on mental health. This study aimed to assess the level of preoccupation and fears surrounding issues of the 21st-century and the implication for psychological well-being of the general population from Central/Southern Italy among different age groups. A questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, topics formulated ad-hoc about preoccupation, fears, habits, and willingness to change habits in the future related to the 21st-century challenges, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) was administered online. A sample of 1831 participants (61% F; mean age 47.71 ± 17.30) was obtained. Results showed that young adults and older adults, respectively, reported greater and less psychological well-being. Young adults reported higher scores for preoccupation, changing habits, and willingness to change habits in the future, while older adults reported the lowest scores except for changing habits, also controlling for gender. Results for this variable, as well as correlations between the many variables described, rely on the specificity of age, and 21st-century challenges. Moreover, the main fears related to the 21st-century concerns were different based on both age and gender. In conclusion, the various stresses of the 21st-century discussed in this study have a relationship with personal well-being, and it is important to consider potential global mental health issues resulting from these stressors.

Keywords: Climate Changes; Natural Resources Depletion; COVID-19 pandemic; Russian-Ukrainian War; psychological well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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