From eco-anxiety to self-fatigue. Understanding young people’s concerns in the age of environmental issues
Lachance, Jocelyn
From eco-anxiety to self-fatigue. Understanding young people’s concerns in the age of environmental issues - 2025.
1
Climate change has been scientifically documented and widely reported in the media, but professionals are concerned about its effects on young people’s mental health. Based on a qualitative survey, this article shows that suffering linked to environmental issues goes beyond simple fear of the future. In particular, it highlights the sense of individual responsibility that drives the younger generations to feel responsible for the planet and humanity, in a modern context that has transformed the individual into the actor of his or her own life, responsible for his or her own destiny. Young people describe the constant pressure to live up to their ecological convictions, sometimes leading to brooding, stress and even depression. In this context, the concept of “eco-anxiety” fails to fully capture this complexity, as it reduces the malaise to a fear of the future, obscuring the sociological context of individual over-responsibility.
From eco-anxiety to self-fatigue. Understanding young people’s concerns in the age of environmental issues - 2025.
1
Climate change has been scientifically documented and widely reported in the media, but professionals are concerned about its effects on young people’s mental health. Based on a qualitative survey, this article shows that suffering linked to environmental issues goes beyond simple fear of the future. In particular, it highlights the sense of individual responsibility that drives the younger generations to feel responsible for the planet and humanity, in a modern context that has transformed the individual into the actor of his or her own life, responsible for his or her own destiny. Young people describe the constant pressure to live up to their ecological convictions, sometimes leading to brooding, stress and even depression. In this context, the concept of “eco-anxiety” fails to fully capture this complexity, as it reduces the malaise to a fear of the future, obscuring the sociological context of individual over-responsibility.
Réseaux sociaux