Work

Eating disorders and eco-anxiety: exploring mental health challenges in university students

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change is a major global challenge with profound psychological impacts, including eco-anxiety, defined as a chronic fear of environmental catastrophe. Despite its potential role of exacerbating vulnerabilities to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as eating disorders (EDs), the relationship between eco-anxiety and eating disorders EDs remains underexplored, particularly in student populations. This study aimed to investigate the associations between eco-anxiety, EDs, and psychological variables among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students, using an anonymous online questionnaire. Eco-anxiety was measured with the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13), EDs were screened using the SCOFF questionnaire combined with body mass index to classify EDs into four categories: restrictive, hyperphagic, bulimic, and others. Additional measures included depression (CESD-8), insomnia severity (ISI), burnout (MBI-SS), and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). Multivariate analyses were used to identify determinants of EDs, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was conducted to explore relationships between categorical variables. A total of 1826 university students were included. Overall, 47.3% of the sample screened positive for a probable ED, with a higher prevalence among women (53.6%) compared to men (29.2%).; (p < 0.0001). Higher eco-anxiety quartile was associated with restrictive, hyperphagic, and bulimic EDs in multivariate model. By adding depression in the multivariate model, associations with restrictive and hyperphagic EDs diminished, suggesting a mediating role for depression. In contrast, eco-anxiety maintained a direct effect on bulimic EDs. The MCA revealed distinct clusters, with high eco-anxiety, insomnia, and depression closely linked to restrictive and hyperphagic EDs. Bulimic EDs were associated with intermediate levels of eco-anxiety and emotional exhaustion. The study underscores eco-anxiety as an emerging risk factor for EDs, mediated in part by depression and other psychological factors. Differences in mechanisms across ED subtypes suggest that eco-anxiety contributes both directly and indirectly. This study enriches the knowledge by demonstrating how environmental stressors intersect with mental health and eating behaviors in vulnerable populations like university students. Public health initiatives should address eco-anxiety and its psychological sequelae to mitigate the risk of EDs, emphasizing tailored interventions based on ED subtype. Climate change not only threatens the environment but also impacts mental health. Some people experience eco-anxiety—a chronic fear of environmental destruction. University students, already exposed to academic stress and life changes, may be especially vulnerable to mental health problems, including eating disorders. We surveyed over 1,800 university students in France to examine whether eco-anxiety is linked to eating disorders (ED) and how it relates to other mental health symptoms like depression, insomnia, and burnout. Students completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing their ED, eco-anxiety levels, and psychological well-being. Based on their answers, we identified four categories of ED: restrictive (eating very little), bulimic (overeating with purging), hyperphagic (overeating without purging), and other types. Nearly half of students screened positive for a probable ED. We found that students with higher levels of eco-anxiety were more likely to have an ED, especially bulimic or restrictive types. Depression seemed to partly explain this link in some cases, particularly for restrictive and hyperphagic eating patterns. However, the connection between eco-anxiety and bulimic behaviors remained strong even after accounting for depression. These results suggest that eco-anxiety may be a risk factor for disordered eating. Addressing eco-anxiety in student mental health services could help reduce the risk of ED.

Source: Journal of Eating Disorders

DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01382-z

Authors: Marie-Pierre Tavolacci, Joël Ladner

Institutions: Nutrition, Inflammation et axe Microbiote-Intestin-Cerveau, Université de Rouen Normandie

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,190