Mental Health in the Era of Climate Anxiety: Assessing the Psychological Impacts of Environmental Crises

Abstract

The escalating frequency and severity of climate-related disasters underscore the urgent need to understand their psychological repercussions, particularly climate change anxiety (CCA). This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design to investigate CCA prevalence, manifestations, and demographic correlates among residents (N=300) directly affected by the catastrophic 2025 Maharashtra wildfires, an event emblematic of India’s growing climate vulnerability. Utilizing the validated 13-item Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS), supplemented by wildfire-specific questions, the research assessed anxiety levels, concerns about future disasters, and expectations of institutional support. Descriptive statistics revealed high CCA prevalence, with 67.4% of participants reporting moderate-to-severe anxiety (CCAS mean scores ≥4). Furthermore, 70% expressed significant concern about future wildfires, and 82% explicitly expected government intervention during climate disasters. Reliability analysis confirmed exceptional internal consistency for the CCAS (Cronbach’s α = 0.972). Crucially, chi-square tests demonstrated no statistically significant associations between CCAS scores and demographic variables, age (p=0.899), gender (p=0.509), or urban-rural residency (p=0.086) indicating a uniform psychological impact transcending traditional sociodemographic vulnerabilities. This finding challenges assumptions of differential vulnerability and highlights climate disasters as universal psychological stressors. The results underscore CCA as a pervasive public mental health concern in post-disaster contexts within the Global South, necessitating integrated interventions. This study provides empirical evidence for mainstreaming mental health into climate adaptation policies at local, governmental, and global levels, advocating for culturally responsive support frameworks that address the immediate and anticipatory dimensions of ecological distress in wildfire-prone regions like Maharashtra.