Climate Activism and Coping with Eco-Emotions: The Roles of Action, Collective Emotional Engagement, and Self-Care

This study examines how participation in the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion influences individuals in coping with difficult eco-emotions and psychosocial factors contributing to fluctuations between them. Using the three dimensions of coping in Pihkala’s process model of eco-anxiety—Action, Emotional Engagement, and Self-care—as a theoretical framework, we conducted a thematic analysis of interviews with current and former Extinction Rebellion activists in Sweden. Findings reveal that Extinction Rebellion support Emotional Engagement by providing social validation, normalization, and collective ‘holding’ of eco-emotions, although individual need for collective emotional engagement vary. We show how taking action in Extinction Rebellion may function as a coping strategy when perceived as socially or instrumentally meaningful, which can be undermined by conflicts or loosing contact with one’s working group. Participants highlighted Extinction Rebellion’s norms of balancing action and self-care, yet former activists described how personality and strong eco-emotions of guilt and responsibility undermined this balance, triggering exhaustion and prolonged distancing. Overall, this study illustrates psychosocial factors within climate activism that may either enable or disable coping strategies for individuals. We also highlight the importance of recognizing variation in coping preferences and needs which is important for effective collaboration and societal adaptation during the climate transition.