EKOLOGINIS NERIMAS KAIP REAKCIJA Į EKOLOGINĘ KRIZĘ IR SU JUO SUSIJĘ VEIKSNIAI: LIETUVOS ATVEJIS
EKOLOGICAL CRISIS AND MENTAL HEALTH: LITHUANIAN CASE

Summary/Abstract: This study examines eco-anxiety as a psychological response to the global ecological crisis, focusing on its prevalence and associated factors in Lithuania. Eco-anxiety is defined as dis-tress, worry, or chronic fear related to environmental degradation, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. While international research shows that eco-anxiety can affect mental health and daily functioning, this is the first systematic study conducted on a representative sample of the Lithuanian population. The research is based on a survey of 2,136 Lithuanian residents conducted in early 2024. It investigates how eco-anxiety relates to personal (e.g., emotions, resilience, perceived risk), interpersonal (e.g., social support, communication), and socio-demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, education, financial situation), as well as environmentally friendly behavior. Results show that many variables are significantly associated with eco-anxiety. Among personal factors, the strongest relationship is with fear, followed by other negative emotions such as sadness and anger. Individuals with higher eco-anxiety also report more depressive symptoms and perceive environmental risks as more severe. Psychological resilience appears to play a protective role: individuals with higher resilience experience less eco-anxiety. Interpersonal factors also play an important role. Frequent conversations about the ecological crisis are strongly associated with higher eco-anxiety, although the direction of this relationship is unclear. Social norms believing that others are increasingly acting in environmentally friendly ways are also linked to higher anxiety levels. Meanwhile, perceived social support tends to be lower among individuals with high eco-anxiety, suggesting that they may feel less supported or require more support. In contrast, socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, and having children show little variation across eco-anxiety levels, differing from some international findings. However, subjective financial situation stands out: individuals who feel financially insecure are more likely to experience high eco-anxiety, even though objective income levels do not differ significantly. Education shows an unexpected pattern, with lower education levels more common in the high-anxiety group, although this relationship is not statistically significant. The study also explores eco-friendly consumption as a coping strategy. Daily environmentally friendly behaviors (e.g., saving water or energy) are relatively similar across groups, but more active forms of engagement (e.g., encouraging others to act) increase with higher eco-anxiety. This suggests that stronger anxiety may motivate more proactive environmental action. Additionally, eco-anxiety is linked to life decisions and attitudes. Individuals with higher anxiety are more likely to report a educed desire to have children due to concerns about the future. They are also more likely to feel that global crises, such as wars, increase their motivation to protect the environment. Overall, the findings highlight that eco-anxiety in Lithuania is closely tied to emotional and psychological factors, especially fear, depression, and perceived risk, as well as social interactions and subjective financial stress. At the same time, it may encourage pro-environmental behavior, particularly more active forms of engagement. The study has some limitations. Its cross-sectional design does not allow conclusions about causality, and the group with high eco-anxiety is relatively small. Future research should further explore causal relationships and focus on protective factors such as resilience and social support. In conclusion, eco-anxiety is a meaningful and multifaceted phenomenon in Lithuania, with implications for mental health and environmental behavior. Understanding its drivers can help develop targeted interventions to support individuals and promote adaptive responses to the ecological crisis.

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