Work

Socio-ecological factors associated with eco-anxiety following the 2023 wildfires among Northern and Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories, Canada: Cross-sectional findings

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Eco-anxiety is an emerging mental health concern among adolescents, particularly in regions affected by climate-related disasters. Following the 2023 wildfires in Canada's Northwest Territories (NWT), this study examined associations between wildfire exposure severity, socio-ecological factors, and eco-anxiety among adolescents in the NWT. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 290 adolescents aged 13-18 years across NWT secondary schools during the 2023-2024 school year. Structural equation modelling examined pathways linking social factors (gender, sexual orientation, Indigenous identity), living conditions (rural residence, caregiver status), structural conditions (food insecurity, wildfire exposure severity) and eco-anxiety. Self-esteem was examined as a moderator. Participants had a mean age of 13.7 years; most identifyied as Indigenous and lived in rural communities. Greater wildfire exposure severity and food insecurity were associated with higher eco-anxiety. Girls, LGBQ+ youth and rural youth reported higher eco-anxiety. Indigenous identity was indirectly associated with eco-anxiety through food insecurity and wildfire exposure severity. Higher self-esteem was associated with lower eco-anxiety and buffered the relationship between wildfire exposure and eco-anxiety. Findings suggest that eco-anxiety among NWT adolescents is shaped by climate-related disruption and social conditions. Interventions can address psychosocial resources and material conditions to support NWT youth mental health following climate-related disasters such as wildfires.

Source: Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health

DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2026.10207