Introducing the Review: “Contributions of Health Psychology to Climate Change: A Review”
This insightful review, titled “Contributions of Health Psychology to Climate Change: A Review,” delves into the critical role that health psychology can play in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. Authored by Elisa Kern de Castro and Marta Reis, and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, this paper highlights the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate the effects of climate change, emphasizing health psychology’s unique position due to its focus on behavior change and well-being.
The article posits that climate change functions as a significant psychological stressor, contributing to various adverse emotional and psychological responses, including anxiety, depression, and eco-distress. It underscores that while behavioral science insights are crucial for driving sustainable actions, they remain underutilized in climate governance.
Key contributions of health psychology explored in the review include:
- Addressing psychological responses to environmental stressors.
- Developing effective behavior modification strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviors.
- Designing and implementing public health interventions that foster resilience and integrate psychological well-being into policy frameworks.
The review emphasizes that climate change is primarily an anthropogenic challenge requiring profound and sustained behavioral change at both individual and societal levels. It critically examines why individuals may not alter their behaviors in response to the climate crisis, noting that existing psychological insights on these topics are often overlooked. Despite its significant potential, health psychology’s engagement with climate change has been limited, facing barriers such as insufficient training and awareness, and a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Ultimately, this paper advocates for health psychologists to engage more actively in climate governance, championing policy integration and tackling both individual and collective behavior change to maximize impact. It concludes by stressing the urgent need for health psychology to play a more proactive role in shaping climate policy and fostering sustainable, health-promoting behaviors for a more resilient society.
Reference for the Article:
Kern de Castro, E., & Reis, M. (2025). Contributions of Health Psychology to Climate Change: A Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 22(4), 634. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040634
