J Adolesc Health. 2025 Sep 18:S1054-139X(25)00353-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.07.021. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Eco-anxiety, a growing concern among adolescents in climate-vulnerable regions like Portugal, requires a deeper understanding of its contributing factors to inform effective interventions. This study aimed to identify individual, household, and neighborhood-level factors associated with eco-anxiety among Portuguese adolescents.
METHODS: Data were collected in 2022-2023 from 1,188 participants aged 16-18 years in the Generation XXI birth cohort. Eco-anxiety was assessed using the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale. Using hierarchical regression models, we estimated associations with individual (e.g., gender, mental health), household (e.g., income), and neighbourhood-level variables (e.g., urbanicity, pollution).
RESULTS: We analyzed data from 1,188 adolescents (55.8% female; median age: 17.0 years). The median overall eco-anxiety scale was 4.0 (interquartile range: 7.0). Being female was associated with higher odds of scoring at least 1 on the eco-anxiety scale (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.62-4.23) and increased eco-anxiety scores (rate ratio [RR] = 1.15, 1.01-1.30). Elevated anxiety (RR = 1.02, 1.01-1.02), emotional and behavioral difficulties (OR = 1.10, 1.04-1.16), and engagement with environmental information sources (OR = 2.33, 1.57-3.44), particularly documentaries (RR = 1.26, 1.06-1.51), were linked to higher eco-anxiety. Lower household income was associated with higher eco-anxiety scores (RR = 0.94, 0.90-0.99), while maternal migration status reduced the odds of scoring at least 1 (OR = 0.38, 0.15-0.96). Residing in peri-urban areas reduced the odds of scoring at least 1 in the behavioral dimension compared to urban areas (OR = 0.47, 0.23-0.95).
DISCUSSION: Eco-anxiety was associated with individual and household factors, and to a lesser degree, with neighborhood characteristics, suggesting that a multilayered approach may be useful in addressing this emerging health concern.
PMID:40965389 | DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.07.021
