Eco-Anxiety Without Borders: A Cross-National Study on Climate Perceptions, Beliefs About Government Climate Action, and Climate Concern

Fatih Cebeci, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Matteo Innocenti, Georgekutty Kochuchakkalackal, Wendy Jeremie, Agnes Buvar, Irmak Atak, Merve Karaman, Rümeysa Dinçer, Sinem Cankardaş Nalbantçılar, Elshan Mammadov, Chiara Cadeddu, Ma. Criselda T. Pacquing, Csilla à Goston, Gabriele Santarelli, Ryan Francis O. Cayubit, Thomas Kuttiankal, Kıvanç Uzun, Karen Katrina V. Trinidad, Sanae Okamoto, Tarana Karimova and Taner Artan

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2026, vol. 72, issue 3, 657-667

Abstract: Background: Eco-anxiety has become a prominent emotional response to the global climate crisis, yet there is a lack of empirical research examining its prevalence and correlates across diverse cultural and national contexts. Objective: This study aimed to investigate levels of eco-anxiety and its associations with age, perceived knowledge, climate risk perception, and beliefs about governmental climate action across participants from six countries. Results: Data were collected from 2,206 participants across India, Italy, the Philippines, Türkiye, Trinidad and Tobago, and Hungary. Statistically significant cross-national differences were found in eco-anxiety, perceived knowledge, climate risk perception, and beliefs about government action. Italian participants reported the highest levels of eco-anxiety, while Hungarian participants reported the lowest. Correlational analyses showed that eco-anxiety was positively associated with climate risk perception and perceived knowledge, but negatively associated with age and beliefs in government action. Discussion: The findings reveal that eco-anxiety is shaped by both cognitive and sociopolitical factors. Risk perception and climate knowledge appear to intensify emotional responses, while belief in government action may serve as a mitigating factor. Age-related differences suggest that younger individuals are more emotionally impacted by climate concerns. Conclusion: This study underscores the need for culturally sensitive public policy and mental health interventions to address the psychological dimensions of the climate crisis.

Keywords: eco-anxiety; eco-distress; climate change perception; beliefs about government action; cross-national study; environmental psychology (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:657-667

DOI: 10.1177/00207640251378601

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