Understanding climate emotions in relation to mental health and pro-environmental behavior: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Human behavior is fundamentally influenced by emotions, while in the anthropogenic era, climate emotions have been observed to function as a significant driver influencing mental health (MH) and pro-environmental behaviors. Yet existing reviews emphasize the segment of fear in climate emotions. This review assessed the relationship between the emotions in the climate emotion wheel (sadness, positivity, fear, anger) on mental health outcomes, as well as pro-environmental behavioral intentions (PEBI). Methods A systematic search in Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, APA PsycNet, Wiley yielded 3,313 records and after screening, 253 studies were chosen for narrative synthesis, with 56 included in the meta-analysis. The quality of the included studies is assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical appraisal checklists and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Key findings In our meta-analysis, climate emotions (hope, empathy, anxiety, worry, and guilt) were positively associated with PEBI. Specifically, climate anxiety ( r = 0.25, 95% CI [0.15, 0.36], p < 0.001), climate worry ( r = 0.48, 95% CI [0.40, 0.56], p < 0.001), and climate guilt ( r = 0.21, 95% CI [0.06, 0.35], p = 0.01) predicted stronger PEBI, whereas emotions in the segment of fear resulted in poorer mental health outcomes, including climate anxiety ( r = 0.39, 95% CI [0.30, 0.48], p < 0.001), highlighting the dual motivational and psychological burden of climate emotions. Recommendations Future research should prioritize experimental and longitudinal designs in climate emotion and should emphasize on the underexplored constructs such as gratitude, betrayal, inspiration, apathy, outrage and loneliness. The prime concern is the paucity of exploration in lower middle-income countries and how positive emotions influence PEBI and mental health outcomes. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251145857 .