Worry, sadness, and anger are just a few of the emotions that contribute to children's concerns about the future of the planet. 95% of girls and boys are concerned about the future of the environment, and more than one in three (40%) report having had a bad dream about climate change or the environment in danger, and struggle to sleep or eat as a result of this thought. This is the conclusion drawn from the findings of a recent Italian study that is unique on the international scientific scene. The study, conducted under the scientific supervision of the Health Psychology Laboratory of the Department of Nervous System and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Pavia, reveals that ecoanxiety in children is not always related to real-life experiences, but rather to communication and information on climate change issues that influence children's perceptions of the problem. In other words, media coverage of the consequences of climate change can have an impact on mental health. Children are deeply connected to the environment (78% of the time) and exhibit a strong sense of protagonism and motivation to act, despite the state of marked concern. In fact, nearly all of the sample feels directly responsible for the situation (95.6%) and believes that their contribution can make a difference (97.2%).
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