[Between Tensions and Support: The Social Dimension of Eco-Anxiety Among Young Adults in Quebec]

The growing awareness of the risks associated with climate change poses a significant challenge to both psychological and collective well-being. Many individuals, particularly young adults, experience psychological distress, recognized as eco-anxiety. Although this reaction is considered a normal response to a real threat, it can nevertheless have harmful effects on those who experience it. Despite a growing body of research on eco-anxiety, few studies have examined its social dimension.

This paper draws on a set of focus groups conducted as part of a broader project on the experience of eco-anxiety among young adults aged 18 to 34 in Quebec. Although the initial aim of the research did not focus on the social dimension, it emerged as a recurrent and structuring theme throughout the qualitative analysis. Anchored in a social psychology and public health perspective, this article aims to characterize this dimension by examining how interpersonal, normative, and societal dynamics shape the experience of eco-anxiety among young adults.

Eight focus groups were conducted with 32 young adults living in Quebec who identified as experiencing eco-anxiety.

Thematic analyses reveal social dynamics shaping the experience of eco-anxiety, such as tensions within family and friendship networks and experiences of stigmatization, but also the search for emotional support among peers who share similar concerns. These interactions influence how eco-anxiety is experienced, expressed, and regulated, sometimes amplifying distress and at other times serving as sources of comfort and legitimacy.

The study underscores the central role of the social dimension, both as a factor that can exacerbate distress and as a source of support. Although eco-anxiety is often presented as an individual response to climatic and environmental threats, our findings suggest that it is also deeply shaped by the social fabric, particularly by the interpersonal relationships within which it emerges. Recognizing this dimension opens the way to a more nuanced understanding of eco-anxiety and interventions that emphasize spaces for dialogue, support, and collective action as resources for emotional regulation and resilience.