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“Feeling your emotions is an act of rebellion:” Exploring the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and young people in the climate crisis
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- Author / Creator
- Cooper, Madison E
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Exposure to climate change is increasingly impacting the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and young people. The disruption to ecosystems, built environments, economic systems, food systems, social support networks, culture and place-based identity is resulting in experiences of anxiety, grief, distress, isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, and suicidality among younger generations. Understanding these complex impacts and how children and young people can be supported while growing up in a time riddled with current and imminent climatic changes is necessary for protecting mental health and wellbeing. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore children and youth mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change.
This thesis begins with a systematic review that examined the nature, range, and extent of current academic literature published between 2010 and 2022 on climate-sensitive mental health outcomes, risk and protective factors, and coping strategies for children and young people. Articles explored clinical and subclinical mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and impacts to social/community wellbeing. Factors such as age, economic insecurity, displacement, and a lack of social support were identified in literature as those that amplify the vulnerability of children and young people to these impacts. Studies also explored how strong social support networks, education, and connection to culture can protect youth from these adverse outcomes.
Within the realm of social support, peer support is emerging as a coping strategy for young people in the context of climate change. This idea was explored in the second part of this dissertation. Youth who have attended climate cafés in Canada, a peer support space for reflecting on climate emotions, as well as climate café facilitators, participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants found that through active listening and shifting their focus from external action to their internal emotional experiences, climate cafés were helpful in processing emotion and building community and resilience. These feeling-centered healing spaces have the potential to positively influence feelings of self-worth, and help youth manage burnout.
As youth continue to learn how to live in a time of constant environmental change, it is necessary to explore and understand the complex ways in which climate change impacts mental health and wellbeing. This understanding is needed to recognize varying manifestations of climate-sensitive mental health outcomes and potential risk and protective factors, as well as to actualize coping strategies that build connection and empower children and young people. -
- Graduation date
- Fall 2024
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.