| dc.description.abstract | The physical and mental health consequences of climate change are, and will be, an
extremely important issue in the anthropology of climate change. Already, we are seeing
countless examples of the effects of climate change in Canada, and around the world. Although
the physical consequences have been theorized for quite some time, scholars have only recently
started to study its mental health effects, an emerging component of which is eco-anxiety.
Studies on eco-anxiety thus far have predominantly been studied using quantitative methods.
Qualitative and mixed-methods approaches have yet to be explored in a similar way. The
purpose of this honours thesis was to contribute to the overall understanding of eco-anxiety
using in-depth, qualitative, semi-structured interviews. The study consisted of nine Dalhousie
University students who were enrolled in programs that pertained to environmental studies i.e.,
Biology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science. The overall findings were fourfold. Firstly,
eco-anxiety is derived from existential anxiety, which is ultimately derived from existential
environmental threats. Secondly, eco-anxiety is not pathological but rather, a rational response
to the climate crisis. Thirdly, the mental health effects observed usually correlated with pre existing mental health conditions, such as general anxiety. Eco-anxiety does not typically create
new mental illnesses, rather it exacerbates pre-existing ones. Lastly, there are various strategies
the participants used for mitigating the mental health effects of eco-anxiety. | en_US |
