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Climate Change and Eco-anxiety : A Scoping Review of Risk and Protective Factors Using Machine Learning
Vrooland, Julia (2025) Climate Change and Eco-anxiety : A Scoping Review of Risk and Protective Factors Using Machine Learning.
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| Abstract: | Eco-anxiety is a psychological response to climate change, characterised by distressing feelings such as fear and hopelessness. These emotions often arise from a perceived inability to adapt to the consequences of climate change. This scoping review aimed to identify and interpret risk and protective factors associated with eco-anxiety. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 825 studies were screened using ASReview's machine learning capabilities and full-text screening in Covidence. Eligible studies addressed eco-anxiety, reported risk or protective factors, and were peer-reviewed articles published in English, Dutch, German, or Spanish. Grey literature, systematic reviews, and non-peer-reviewed articles were excluded. Thirty-seven articles met the criteria, most of which employed cross-sectional survey designs (k = 28). Female participants were overrepresented (k = 24), and most studies originated from the Global North (k = 33). Younger individuals and women were identified as vulnerable groups. Protective factors included flexible coping strategies such as social support, emotional regulation, normalising emotions, and perspective-taking. Media exposure, climate-related education, and climate activism showed mixed effects depending on the context. The frequent use of cross-sectional designs and the underrepresentation of studies from the Global South and diverse gender samples highlight the need for more longitudinal designs and culturally diverse and representative populations. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 43 environmental science, 71 sociology, 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106770 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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