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Climate Change Related Depression, Anxiety and Stress Symptoms Perceived by Medical Students

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Schwaab

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Nadja Gebhardt

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Hans-Christoph Friederich

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Christoph Nikendei

    (Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department for General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

Climate change has drastic consequences on human physical and mental health. However, research on the psychological effects of climate change awareness is still inconclusive. To examine the mental burden posed by climate change awareness and potential resilience factors, n = 203 medical students were surveyed about their awareness of the implications of climate change. Furthermore, well-established mental health questionnaires (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PTSS-10, PSQ-20) were presented twice, in their original form and in a modified version to specifically ask about the respective psychological burden regarding climate change. For identification of potential resilience factors, measures for attachment style (RQ), structural abilities (OPD-SF), and sense of coherence (SOC-13) were used. The results of our study suggest that medical students in Germany have an increased risk to suffer from mental health problems and predominantly experience significant perceived stress in regard to climate change. However, the reported stress does not yet translate into depressive, anxious, or traumatic symptoms. Climate-related perceived stress correlates negatively with potential resilience factors preventing the development of mental disorders such as attachment style, structural abilities, and sense of coherence.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Schwaab & Nadja Gebhardt & Hans-Christoph Friederich & Christoph Nikendei, 2022. "Climate Change Related Depression, Anxiety and Stress Symptoms Perceived by Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9142-:d:872702
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gregor Wolbring & Maria Escobedo, 2023. "Academic Coverage of Social Stressors Experienced by Disabled People: A Scoping Review," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-31, September.
    2. Çiçek Ediz & Derya Yanik, 2023. "The effects of climate change awareness on mental health: Comparison of climate anxiety and hopelessness levels in Turkish youth," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(8), pages 2157-2166, December.

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