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Chapter 5 - Neuropsychiatric Perspectives on the Biology of Anxiety and Youth Climate Distress

from Part I - Conceptual Foundations of Climate Distress in Young People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2024

By
Jacob Lee  and
Anthony Guerrero
Edited by
Elizabeth Haase  and
Kelsey Hudson
Elizabeth Haase
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
Kelsey Hudson
Affiliation:
Climate Psychology Alliance North America
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Summary

Many young people report that anxiety in the face of climate change causes impairing levels of distress. Understanding their anxiety includes understanding neurochemical changes to their brains in the face of rising temperatures, natural disasters, disease pandemics, and other stressors. By learning about the ways in which the developing brain balances safety and exploration behaviors, we can encourage resilience and avoid climate-related despair, helping children and adolescents navigate this unprecedented crisis.

Keywords

eco-anxietyyouthstressclimate changemental healthbiologyneurologyneuropsychiatryneuroanatomyamygdale
Type
Chapter
Information
Climate Change and Youth Mental Health
Multidisciplinary Perspectives
 , pp. 93 - 110
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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