A systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship of eco-emotions on the mental health and wellbeing of young adults

Rana, SSJB ORCID: 0009-0009-6755-4378, Morris, PG, Brett, CE ORCID: 0000-0002-5680-2948, Pacheco, E, Demetriou, K ORCID: 0000-0003-1611-2392 and Tunç, H ORCID: 0000-0003-0429-5427 (2026) A systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship of eco-emotions on the mental health and wellbeing of young adults. Applied Psychology Health and Well Being, 18 (3). ISSN 1758-0846

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Abstract

This paper systematically reviews the literature on levels of eco-emotions reported by young adults (aged 18–29) across nations, with meta-analyses of associations between eco-anxiety and mental health outcomes. Fourteen databases were searched for relevant studies. Fifty-nine studies reported levels of eco-emotions, with 37 studies reporting associations between eco-anxiety and each of anxiety, depression, and stress. Eco-anxiety was the most reported eco-emotion. Higher scores of eco-anxiety and eco-fear were reported by populations facing direct environmental impacts. Eco-anger and eco-hope were reported to have a role in adaptive coping. Meta-analyses indicated moderate, significant positive associations between eco-anxiety and depression r = 0.29, anxiety r = 0.34, and stress r = 0.30. Meta-regressions were conducted to explore heterogeneity. Our results highlight the importance of addressing heterogeneity in operationalizing the construct of eco-anxiety and the need to collect data on eco-emotions in low-and-middle-income nations, which is lacking in the current literature.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; Adaptation, Psychological; Depression; Stress, Psychological; Emotions; Anxiety; Mental Health; Adolescent; Adult; Young Adult; eco‐anger; eco‐anxiety; eco‐emotions; eco‐fear; mental health; young adults; Humans; Anxiety; Mental Health; Adult; Young Adult; Depression; Adolescent; Stress, Psychological; Emotions; Adaptation, Psychological; 5203 Clinical and Health Psychology; 52 Psychology; Depression; Behavioral and Social Science; Brain Disorders; Basic Behavioral and Social Science; Mental Illness; Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders; 6.6 Psychological and behavioural; Mental health; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Humans; Anxiety; Mental Health; Adult; Young Adult; Depression; Adolescent; Stress, Psychological; Emotions; Adaptation, Psychological; 1701 Psychology; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	16 April 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	3 June 2026
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2026 09:52
Last Modified:	03 Jun 2026 09:52
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/aphw.70157
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28709

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