Climate Change Anxiety Volume II

Building on the first volume, this second volume of the Climate Change Anxiety series aims to further expand this field of research.Climate change anxiety (CCA) is an emerging concept within the broader field of environmental psychology and climate-related mental health, closely related to eco-anxiety, a psychoterratic syndrome characterized by a generalized reaction to the deteriorating state of planetary ecosystems. CCA is proposed to encompass anxiety-related symptoms in response to climate change, serving as an adaptive response to prepare for potential threats. At the same time, CCA sits alongside other climate-related mental health challenges, including more acute stress reactions and trauma that may follow direct exposure to climate-related events. However, the lack of an official clinical definition raises debates about the legitimacy of pathologizing what might be an adaptive response to a worsening global issue. While some evidence suggests that CCA can motivate intentions and actions, results are mixed, with the potential for opposite effects depending on contextual and cognitive factors. This highlights the need for further investigation into the drivers and causes of CCA, its relationship with general anxiety and climate-event-related distress, and its role in fostering climate change adaptation.This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding and characterization of CCA, particularly its relationship with contextual social, geographical, and cognitive factors. The goal is to clarify when and how CCA supports healthy, adaptive engagement with the climate crisis versus when it contributes to distress and functional impairment. Specific questions include how CCA relates to other eco-emotions, such as eco-fear and eco-anger, as well as positive, action-supportive emotions (e.g., hope, reward, pride/accomplishment) that may mitigate anxiety while promoting pro-climate behavior. The collection also seeks to identify cognitive factors that promote adaptive coping and sustained engagement (e.g., constructive meaning-making, realistic efficacy beliefs) versus cognitive patterns that may intensify distress (e.g., rumination, catastrophizing, perceived helplessness). Additionally, the collection encourages submissions from diverse geographic regions-including underrepresented locations, to better understand global similarities and differences in CCA experiences, drivers, and consequences. Finally, given the unique nature of CCA, the Research Topic welcomes work on tailored treatment and support approaches for cases reaching functional impairment, with attention to relieving burden while retaining the potentially motivating components of CCA for climate action. By addressing these questions, the research aims to provide insights into the complex interplay between CCA, intentions, and behaviors, ultimately contributing to more effective climate change adaptation strategies.To gather further insights into the multifaceted nature of CCA, the collection welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Relationship with other eco-emotions, including negative (e.g., eco-fear, eco-anger) and positive emotions (e.g., hope, accomplishment) and their differential effects• Relationship with self and collective efficacy in predicting and mediating CCA, distress, and pro-climate behavior• CCA development across diverse and underrepresented geographic contexts, including post-event stress/trauma and vulnerable settings• Neuro-cognitive and cognitive factors related to adaptive responses versus distress and impairment• Tailored intervention, prevention, and treatment approaches for clinically impairing CCA, balancing symptom relief with sustained climate engagement• Research that sheds light on the relationship between CCA, intentions, and actual behaviorsMethodological robustness, transparency, and replicability of practices are prioritized in selecting studies, ensuring that the research contributes valuable and reliable insights into the understanding of climate change anxiety. Topic editors: Francisco Sampaio, Laura Piccardi, Joshua M Carlson Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78978/climate-change-anxiety-volume-ii