Climate change anxiety: A meta-analysis

• Meta-analysis of 94 studies including 170,747 participants across 27 countries. • Certain groups are more likely to experience climate change anxiety. • Climate change anxiety is negatively related to well-being. • Climate change anxiety is positively related to climate action. • Climate change anxiety conceptually differs from generalized anxiety. Climate change anxiety is increasingly prevalent, attracting both scientific and societal interest. However, the potential antecedents and consequences of this phenomenon are not comprehensively understood. This meta-analysis synthesizes 94 studies including 170,747 adult participants from 27 countries, examining 33 correlates of climate change anxiety. We find that: (1) certain groups are more likely to experience climate change anxiety, including younger individuals, women, and individuals with higher levels of neuroticism, as well as people with left-leaning political views, individuals highly concerned about the future or the environment, and those exposed to perceived climate change consequences or frequent climate change information; (2) belief in climate change, climate change risk perceptions, and perceived consensus among climate scientists are positively associated with climate change anxiety; (3) climate change anxiety is negatively related to well-being, but positively related to climate action, with associations surpassing those of generalized anxiety. Implications for supporting vulnerable groups, channeling climate change anxiety into action, and recommendations for future research are discussed.