1 - (SYM 12) Anxious for Change: Meta-analysis of Climate Emotion and Pro-environmental Action Associations

Abstract Body


Background: Emotional responses to climate change are often framed as detrimental to mental health, with extensive research (including several meta-analyses and reviews) exploring the association between ecological emotions and negative mental health outcomes. However, ecological emotions are also likely play a constructive role in motivating sustainable action. Despite growing interest in this area, evidence on how specific eco-emotions relate to pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) remains fragmented and yet to be synthesised.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine associations between five common eco-emotions—anxiety, anger, guilt, sadness, and hope—and PEB. Studies were identified through comprehensive database searches and assessed for methodological quality. Random-effects models estimated pooled correlations, and exploratory analyses examined potential moderators, including age, sex, year of data collection and several indices derived from the nationality of the sample: United Nations Human Development Index, Hofstede's Individualism vs. Collectivism Index, and Climate Risk Index.

Results: Preliminary findings suggest that eco-emotions are positively associated with PEB, though the strength of these relationships varies across emotions and behavioural domains. Subgroup and moderator analyses reveal intriguing patterns that point to cultural and temporal influences.
Implications: These results highlight the complexity of emotional responses to climate change and their potential to both support and hinder adaptive action. We discuss implications for theory, intervention design, and strategies to leverage constructive emotions in promoting sustainable behaviour.