Exploring Eco-Anxiety and Eco-Coping in Young Adults in India

Abstract

With the rising challenges faced by humanity due to climate change, a new phenomenon known as eco-anxiety has been researched, especially with its impacts on mental health. With this growing research, there is a scarcity of research on the prevalence of eco-anxiety in young adults without generalized anxiety disorder, and the coping mechanisms they use. The aim of this study was to address this research gap in young adults in India and gain a deeper knowledge of the phenomenon. The study used a non-probability purposive sampling for the recruitment. A heterogeneous sample of young adults aged 18-24 years was recruited for semi-structured interviews. The participants hailed from different cities in the country and were recruited after a screening process. The interview questions covered domains of eco-anxiety, its behavioural, and mental impacts, as well as the coping mechanisms for the phenomenon. They were also asked to fill out an eco-anxiety scale to validate the data further. Seven major themes were found as a result of Braun & Clarke’s thematic analysis. These included – information about climate change, emotions associated, coping strategies, blame attribution, barriers to pro-environmental behaviour, views about the future, and personal impact of climate change. These implications may extend to the therapeutic realm, informing the development of coping strategies for long-term well-being. These will also aid in developing psychometric scales for coping strategies specific to eco-anxiety, policy development, and the inclusion of young adults in the decision-making process. Overall, this research aimed to provide valuable insights into the experiences of Indian young adults.