Psychological Impact of Coastal Displacement and Climate Anxiety: A Review of Mental Health Outcomes in Climate-Vulnerable Coastal Communities

Abstract

The effects of coastal erosion and climate change are not confined to physical transformation; they also impact the psychological state of coastal populations inhabiting threatened shorelines. This paper reviews the psychological impacts of coastal displacement and the larger context of climate anxiety based on the literature available in the fields of environmental psychology, disaster psychology, and mental health. The paper reviews the role of coastal land, home, and community loss in the development of grief, stress disorders, and the syndrome of solastalgia that is associated with emotional discomfort caused by changes in one’s home environment. In addition, the psychological research techniques used for investigation of climate anxiety will be reviewed, such as standardized anxiety scales, qualitative interviews, and community longitudinal studies. The findings suggest that coastal-displaced populations suffer from anxiety, depression, and disconnection to their home environments; at the same time, vulnerable groups of people (e.g., children, elders, and indigenous populations) face elevated risks of climate-related mental problems. This paper will discuss potential solutions that could reduce anxiety in displaced populations and interventions that can help people cope with negative emotions. Psychological support is a vital element of climate adaptation planning, which should include not only physical and economical but also the mental well-being.