A review of youth-focused climate and eco-anxiety reviews: Synthesizing implications for coping research, policy, and practice

Given the rapidly emerging research on climate and eco-anxiety among youth and young adults (YYA), knowledge synthesis work is imperative. This study uses an umbrella review methodology to characterize conceptual and theoretical perspectives and gaps across existing reviews, and to summarize priorities for advancing coping research, policy, and practice.

A search across four databases, a backward search, and a manual search resulted in a final sample of 20 reviews. Data were analyzed using a structured data extraction form, critical appraisal, and thematic analysis. Members of the project Youth and Young Adult Advisory Circle shared their perspectives on preliminary findings.

The reviews, published between 2006 and 2024, span multiple disciplines but generally lack methodological rigor. Review objectives and youth subgroups varied, and none included perspectives from YYA. Conceptual ambiguity and limited theoretical engagement were evident.Seven key themes related to coping practices presented in the findings of existing reviews were identified: climate action and societal transformation, perspective and reframing, media engagement, mental health and emotional regulation, social and nature-based connections, education and skill-building, and de-emphasizing, distancing, and avoidance. Key research and policy priorities reported in the existing reviews were summarized.

We summarize gaps in the existing reviews, followed by a discussion of priority pathways for advancing coping research, policy, and practice. These pathways include (1) prioritizing YYA experiences and perspectives, (2) skill-building, training, and resources for youth allies, (3) developing coping skills among YYA along with evaluative research, (4) collective action, education, and communication, (5) enhancing interdisciplinary and interprofessional work and network-building, and (6) greater attention to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.