CLIMATE ANXIETY CRISIS: HOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COPING WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

<doi>10.24250/jpe/si/2025/PSA/OOO/MAB/FED/</doi>

Authors

  • Peter Sanjo ADEWALE Osun State University
  • Oluwaseun Oyebisi ODETOLA
  • Martha Arit BASSEY
  • Fehintoluwa Elizabeth DADA

Keywords:

climate change, youth, health, psychology, climate crisis, climate anxiety

Abstract

Climate change is a worldwide crisis that has been linked to
a range of negative health outcomes, both physical and
psychological and younger generations are increasingly
feeling the weight of it. Researchers have made a giant
stride in providing adaptable strategies to this menace.
However, there is a dearth of factual and representative
survey research that focuses on the experiences of youths
in Osun State concerning this threat. Therefore, this study
examined how youths are coping with the psychological
toll of climate change in Osun State Nigeria. The study
used a descriptive survey to collect data from 157 youths
who were randomly selected from the three senatorial
districts in the State. Descriptive statistics of frequency
counts with percentages were used to analyse the data. The
results showed that most youths are experiencing a high
level of worry about their health, education, and future.The
majority have experienced mental health problems
including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and
depression, phobias and panic attacks, sleep disorders,
cognitive deficits, increased risks of suicide and
intellectual disabilities. However, youth are taking actionto
mitigate the impact of climate change. They have embarked
on proper waste disposal, self-education to feel
empowered, reducing energy consumption and engaging in
climate change activism. Therefore, adults should actively engage in this fight as their involvement will provide a
form of reassurance, and model pro-social and ecofriendly
behaviours for the youths.

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Published

2025-07-17

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