Impact of Flood Anxiety & Climate Stress on Mental Health in Riverine Areas of Patna

Climate change–induced flooding poses persistent physical, social, and psychological challenges for communities living along major river systems in India. This study examines the impact of flood anxiety and climate-related stress on mental health outcomes among residents of riverine areas in Patna, Bihar-a region experiencing recurrent monsoon flooding, riverbank erosion, and livelihood disruption. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 100 adultsresiding in high- and moderate-risk flood zones. Standardised instruments measuring flood anxiety, climate stress, generalised anxiety (GAD-7), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and sleep disturbance were administered. Results indicated moderate to high levels of flood anxiety and climate stress across the sample, with significantly elevated anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among individuals living in high-risk zones. Correlation analyses demonstrated strong associations between environmental stressors and mental-health indicators, while regression findings showed that flood anxiety and climate stress together accounted for 46% of the variance in psychological distress. The study highlights the substantial psychological burden experienced by Patna’s riverine communities and emphasises the need to integrate mental-health support, climate-sensitive policies, and community resilience strategies into disaster management frameworks in Bihar. These findings contribute important empirical evidence to the emerging literature on climate-related psychological distress in low-income, high-exposure settings