IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i9p4573-d543597.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Interplay between Social and Ecological Determinants of Mental Health for Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Maya K. Gislason

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Angel M. Kennedy

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Stephanie M. Witham

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

Abstract

Children and youth are showing increasing levels of mental health distress due to the climate crisis, characterized by feelings of sadness, guilt, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, solastalgia, and disconnection from land. To gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between climate change and children and youth’s mental health, we conducted a rapid review and a thematic analysis of the results in NVivo 12. Our findings show that children and youth experience a plethora of direct and indirect effects from climate change and this impacts their mental wellbeing in diverse and complex ways. Young people also have varied perceptions of climate change based on their social locations and many are dealing with feelings of immense worry and eco-anxiety. The mental health impacts of climate change on children/youth are tied to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) but also need to be understood in relation to the Ecological Determinants of Health (EDoH). Through an eco-social lens, this paper explores these conceptual issues and uses them to provide a framework for understanding the interplay of social and ecological determinants of mental health for children/youth.

Suggested Citation

  • Maya K. Gislason & Angel M. Kennedy & Stephanie M. Witham, 2021. "The Interplay between Social and Ecological Determinants of Mental Health for Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4573-:d:543597
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/9/4573/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/9/4573/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Margot W. Parkes & Sandra Allison & Henry G. Harder & Dawn Hoogeveen & Diana Kutzner & Melissa Aalhus & Evan Adams & Lindsay Beck & Ben Brisbois & Chris G. Buse & Annika Chiasson & Donald C. Cole & Sh, 2019. "Addressing the Environmental, Community, and Health Impacts of Resource Development: Challenges across Scales, Sectors, and Sites," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Maud Huynen & Pim Martens & Su-Mia Akin, 2013. "Climate change: an amplifier of existing health risks in developing countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1425-1442, December.
    3. Durkalec, Agata & Furgal, Chris & Skinner, Mark W. & Sheldon, Tom, 2015. "Climate change influences on environment as a determinant of Indigenous health: Relationships to place, sea ice, and health in an Inuit community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 136, pages 17-26.
    4. Julia Bentz, 2020. "Learning about climate change in, with and through art," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1595-1612, October.
    5. Helen L. Berry & Thomas D. Waite & Keith B. G. Dear & Anthony G. Capon & Virginia Murray, 2018. "The case for systems thinking about climate change and mental health," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 282-290, April.
    6. Zhiwei Xu & Perry E. Sheffield & Wenbiao Hu & Hong Su & Weiwei Yu & Xin Qi & Shilu Tong, 2012. "Climate Change and Children’s Health—A Call for Research on What Works to Protect Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-19, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Isaac Akomea-Frimpong & Amma Kyewaa Agyekum & Alexander Baah Amoakwa & Prosper Babon-Ayeng & Fatemeh Pariafsai, 2024. "Toward the attainment of climate-smart PPP infrastructure projects: a critical review and recommendations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 19195-19229, August.
    2. Andy Felix Jităreanu & Mioara Mihăilă & Ciprian-Ionel Alecu & Alexandru-Dragoș Robu & Gabriela Ignat & Carmen Luiza Costuleanu, 2022. "The Relationship between Environmental Factors, Satisfaction with Life, and Ecological Education: An Impact Analysis from a Sustainability Pillars Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fiona Charlson & Suhailah Ali & Tarik Benmarhnia & Madeleine Pearl & Alessandro Massazza & Jura Augustinavicius & James G. Scott, 2021. "Climate Change and Mental Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-38, April.
    2. Alexandra Sawatzky & Ashlee Cunsolo & Andria Jones-Bitton & Jacqueline Middleton & Sherilee L. Harper, 2018. "Responding to Climate and Environmental Change Impacts on Human Health via Integrated Surveillance in the Circumpolar North: A Systematic Realist Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-37, November.
    3. Panu Pihkala, 2020. "Eco-Anxiety and Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-38, December.
    4. Zhihui Liu & Yongna Meng & Hao Xiang & Yuanan Lu & Suyang Liu, 2020. "Association of Short-Term Exposure to Meteorological Factors and Risk of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-18, October.
    5. Margaret I. Rolfe & Sabrina Winona Pit & John W. McKenzie & Jo Longman & Veronica Matthews & Ross Bailie & Geoffrey G. Morgan, 2020. "Social vulnerability in a high-risk flood-affected rural region of NSW, Australia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 101(3), pages 631-650, April.
    6. Vanessa Sloan Morgan & Dawn Hoogeveen & May Farrales & Maya K Gislason & Margot W Parkes & Henry G Harder, 2021. "Resource extraction and intersectoral research: Engaging accountable relations in the Environment Community Health Observatory Network," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(5), pages 972-992, August.
    7. Caradee Yael Wright & Candice Eleanor Moore & Matthew Chersich & Rebecca Hester & Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle & Guy Kakumbi Mbayo & Charles Ndika Akong & Colin D. Butler, 2021. "A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-9, April.
    8. Alexandra Sawatzky & Ashlee Cunsolo & Andria Jones-Bitton & Dan Gillis & Michele Wood & Charlie Flowers & Inez Shiwak & Sherilee L. Harper, 2020. "“The best scientists are the people that’s out there”: Inuit-led integrated environment and health monitoring to respond to climate change in the Circumpolar North," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 45-66, May.
    9. Hatala, Andrew R. & Morton, Darrien & Njeze, Chinyere & Bird-Naytowhow, Kelley & Pearl, Tamara, 2019. "Re-imagining miyo-wicehtowin: Human-nature relations, land-making, and wellness among Indigenous youth in a Canadian urban context," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 122-130.
    10. Leonor Mercedes Ward & Mary Janet Hill & Nikashant Antane & Samia Chreim & Anita Olsen Harper & Samantha Wells, 2021. "“The Land Nurtures Our Spirit”: Understanding the Role of the Land in Labrador Innu Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Silvio Cristiano & Samuele Zilio, 2021. "Whose Health in Whose City? A Systems Thinking Approach to Support and Evaluate Plans, Policies, and Strategies for Lasting Urban Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Gemma Hayward & Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, 2021. "‘Seeing with Empty Eyes’: a systems approach to understand climate change and mental health in Bangladesh," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-30, March.
    13. Parry, Luke & Radel, Claudia & Adamo, Susana B. & Clark, Nigel & Counterman, Miriam & Flores-Yeffal, Nadia & Pons, Diego & Romero-Lankao, Paty & Vargo, Jason, 2019. "The (in)visible health risks of climate change," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    14. Petra Tschakert & Jon Barnett & Neville Ellis & Carmen Lawrence & Nancy Tuana & Mark New & Carmen Elrick‐Barr & Ram Pandit & David Pannell, 2017. "Climate change and loss, as if people mattered: values, places, and experiences," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(5), September.
    15. Rochelle Thompson & Briana N. M. Hagen & Margaret N. Lumley & Charlotte B. Winder & Basem Gohar & Andria Jones-Bitton, 2023. "“An Incredible Amount of Stress before You Even Put a Shovel in the Ground”: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Farming Stressors in Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    16. Christian Hoyer & Indra Gunawan & Carmen Haule Reaiche, 2023. "Exploring the relationships between Industry 4.0 implementation factors through systems thinking and network analysis," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(4), pages 723-739, July.
    17. Xuan Sun & Wenting Yang & Tao Sun & Ya Ping Wang, 2018. "Negative Emotion under Haze: An Investigation Based on the Microblog and Weather Records of Tianjin, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    18. Benedikt Janzen, 2022. "Temperature and Mental Health: Evidence from Helpline Calls," Papers 2207.04992, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2022.
    19. Zakaria A. Mani & Krzysztof Goniewicz, 2023. "Adapting Disaster Preparedness Strategies to Changing Climate Patterns in Saudi Arabia: A Rapid Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, September.
    20. Jeffrey C. Standen & Jessica Spencer & Grace W. Lee & Joe Van Buskirk & Veronica Matthews & Ivan Hanigan & Sinead Boylan & Edward Jegasothy & Matilde Breth-Petersen & Geoffrey G. Morgan, 2022. "Aboriginal Population and Climate Change in Australia: Implications for Health and Adaptation Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-30, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4573-:d:543597. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.