Environmental Distress Among Dutch Young Adults: Worried Minds or Indifferent Hearts?

Young adults increasingly report stress and concern over the erosion of their natural surroundings. We studied environmental distress and solastalgia in a representative sample of 1006 Dutch young adults aged 16-35 using an adapted version of the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS, Higginbotham ea., 2006). The role of 'place attachment', their sense of control, trust, and personality (BFI-10) was used to explore the psychological impact of environmental challenges close to home. Participants most often reported stress due to 'noise' (~ 22%), 'disappearance of nature' (~ 20%), and 'heat' (~ 18%). The latter two were described as most threatening. Environmental distress limited enjoyment of life in ~ 20% of youth and triggered worries about the future (~ 23%). A third of young adults reported worries that valued aspects in their home environment are being lost, with feelings of powerlessness (~ 27%) and limited trust in the Dutch government (~ 44%). A notable portion of surveyed young adults experienced environmental distress and solastalgia, but a substantial number appeared somewhat indifferent towards the state of their natural surroundings. To safeguard mental well-being and empowerment of the former group, as well as implement strategies to elevate environmental awareness and foster active engagement in the latter, more information on fundamental motivations and coping mechanisms is needed.