Clarifying the nature of the association between eco-anxiety, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour

Research shows that eco-anxiety is implicated in mental health outcomes and pro-environmental behaviour, but little attention has been given to disentangling the effects of specific dimensions of eco-anxiety on indicators of mental health and pro-environmental behaviour. Using Australian cross-sectional data (N = 476), we first examined the unique associations between eco-anxiety dimensions, mental wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour, and then, using longitudinal data (N = 161), the stability of and associations between eco-anxiety dimensions across time. Cross-sectional analyses showed that symptomatic aspects of eco-anxiety (i.e., affective and behavioural symptoms) were uniquely associated with poorer mental health, while rumination and anxiety about impacting the planet were uniquely associated with more pro-environmental behaviour. We also test the proposition from previous researchers that the relationship between eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour is curvilinear (i.e., high levels of eco-anxiety contribute to eco-paralysis). Our longitudinal data showed that people maintain similar levels of eco-anxiety across a two-week period, and provided preliminary support for rumination and personal impact eco-anxiety contributing to subsequent symptomatic eco-anxiety. Together these findings further our understanding of the nature of eco-anxiety and highlight the potential role different aspects of the phenomenon play in shaping people's mental wellbeing and engagement with environmental solutions.