Eating disorders and eco-anxiety: exploring mental health challenges in university students

The study underscores eco-anxiety as an emerging risk factor for EDs, mediated in part by depression and other psychological factors. Differences in mechanisms across ED subtypes suggest that eco-anxiety contributes both directly and indirectly. This study enriches the knowledge by demonstrating how environmental stressors intersect with mental health and eating behaviors in vulnerable populations like university students. Public health initiatives should address eco-anxiety and its psychological sequelae to mitigate the risk of EDs, emphasizing tailored interventions based on ED subtype.