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Anger as a Bridge: Understanding How Climate Change Anxiety Shapes Well-Being
Mariana Pinho1,2, Enrickson Varsori3
1Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Climate change anxiety is linked to negative emotions and anger. Cognitive impairment from climate anxiety relates to positive feelings and life satisfaction, but functional impairment does not predict well-being when general anxiety is considered.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Environmental Health
- Mental Health
Background:
- Climate change anxiety is an emerging mental health concern.
- Evidence suggests links between climate anxiety and reduced well-being.
- Further research is needed to understand its cognitive, emotional, and functional aspects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between climate change anxiety and mental health outcomes.
- To explore the role of cognitive and functional impairments in climate anxiety.
- To examine the association between climate change anxiety and generalized anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large, nationally representative sample.
- Employed correlational analyses to examine relationships.
- Conducted exploratory cross-sectional mediation models.
Main Results:
- Climate change anxiety positively correlated with negative affect and anger.
- Cognitive impairment linked to climate anxiety was associated with positive affect and life satisfaction.
- Functional impairment was not a significant predictor of life satisfaction when controlling for generalized anxiety.
- Climate change anxiety showed moderate positive correlations with generalized anxiety (state and trait).
- Anger mediated the relationship between climate change anxiety and negative affect/life satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- This study enhances understanding of the psychological processes underlying climate anxiety.
- Findings clarify the complex relationship between climate anxiety, emotional states, and subjective well-being.
- Results highlight the importance of considering both cognitive and emotional factors in climate anxiety research.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
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01:16What is Climate?
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be interpreted as...