Higher levels of eco-distress in psychotherapy out-patients with depressive and anxious symptoms are predicted by emotion regulation strategies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Psychotherapy patients are particularly vulnerable to the experience of eco-distress, often referred to as climate anxiety or eco-anxiety. Eco-distress can foster pro-environmental behavior, but its various symptoms might as well be functionally impairing and are negatively correlated with psychological well-being. The link between eco-distress and depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as the use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies, may explain this vulnerability and suggest ways to promote resilience.

Methods

Psychotherapy out-patients were screened at T1 (n = 203) and again five months later (T2; n = 79) for anxious (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale; GAD-7) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9) and for eco-di

SUBMITTER: Gebhardt N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12612838 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature