Associations between Mental Health, Lifestyle Factors and Worries about Climate Change in Norwegian Adolescents

Abstract

Climate change is a serious global health threat that has an impact on young people’s lives and may influence their mental health. Since the global climate strike movement, many adolescents have expressed worries about climate change. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of worries about climate change, and factors associated with worries about climate change, in a representative sample of Norwegian adolescents. Data were retrieved from Ungdata, an annual nationwide online youth survey. Adolescents (n = 128,484) from lower and upper secondary school participated in the study. Data were analysed descriptively and with logistic regression. Most of the adolescents were not worried or a little worried about climate change. Girls, pupils who had at least one parent with higher education and pupils from urban areas were more inclined to worry about the climate. Adolescents who worried about the climate had more symptoms of depression than those who were less worried. While worry about climate change may constitute an additional burden for adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms, such worry can also be seen to reflect climate-friendly values.

Eco-anxiety among Children and Young People: Systematic Review of Social, Political, and Geographical determinants

“…In a Norwegian study of people aged 13-19 years, Leonhardt at al. found that those aged 15-16 years were more likely to be worried about climate change, but the relationship with age was non-linear, decreasing among those aged 18-19 years [21]. In a qualitative study by Chou et al, the authors noted that children aged around 11-12 years may experience more climate-related distress compared to younger children as they develop and become more able to envisage a hypothetical future [14].…”

“…Studies often suggested that females express higher eco-anxiety levels than males, but few empirically tested for potential gender differences. Leonhardt et al found that young women were more likely to experience eco-anxiety than men, 14% of females reported being very worried compared to 7% of males, and 28% of males reported being not worried at all, compared to 10% of females [21]. In their logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors and leisure activities, females had 2.60 (95% CI: 2.53–2.67) higher odds of eco-anxiety compared to males, and this association persisted after further adjustment for mental health and substance use (cannabis and alcohol).…”

“…According to Leonhardt et al, individuals who perceived their family’s financial situation as good had lower risk of being worried about climate change compared to those who perceived their financial situation as poor, suggesting that family financial stability could play a role in shaping adolescents’ levels of climate-related worry in Norway [21]. However, this association reversed when adjusted for sociodemographic factors and leisure activities, with no association remaining after further adjustment for mental health and substance use.…”

“…Leonhardt et al also found that the level of parental educa on was consistently associated with eco-anxiety in all models calculated [21]. Compared to those with no higher educa on, young people whose parents had higher educa on had 1.57 (95 CI: 1.52-1.61) higher odds of being worried about climate change.…”

Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020–2022

“…Nevertheless, recent studies indicate that an increased salience of death due to the COVID-19 pandemic would also be associated with an increase in the level of depressive symptoms, which was not the case in the present study ( 73 – 75 ). Additionally, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the recent energy crisis, economic changes, rising inflation rates, climate change and related worry in youths and adolescents ( 76 – 78 ) could, to some extent, contribute to an explanation of this specific increase in only suicidal ideation, but further research is needed.…”