Study: Rising temperatures and heatwaves worsen mental health in children and adolescents

Higher temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are associated with worsening mental health among children and young people, according to a new Australian-led review.

The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, found that adverse mental health outcomes among children increased by nearly 1% with every 1°C rise in daily temperature, Australia's Flinders University said on Thursday.

Researchers analyzed data from 23 international studies exploring the links between temperature, heatwaves and mental health. The review showed that children aged 5 to 18 are particularly vulnerable: the risk of mental health problems rises by 25% during heatwaves and by 1.5% as temperatures increase.

Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens, an epidemiologist at Flinders University and co-author of the study, said climate change is driving more frequent and intense heatwaves in Australia and worldwide, creating growing public health challenges, especially for children and adolescents.

She noted that children are especially sensitive to extreme heat because it can interfere with sleep, education, outdoor activities and recreation. In addition, heat-related stress experienced by parents and families may further affect children's emotional wellbeing.

Co-author Professor Corey Bradshaw said the analysis linked high temperatures and heatwaves to higher rates of emergency department visits, anxiety, depression and suicide attempts among young people. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating mental health into climate adaptation strategies and developing targeted measures to protect children and adolescents.

The researchers suggest practical interventions such as cooling classrooms, improving ventilation and creating more shaded outdoor spaces to help reduce the impact of extreme heat on young people's mental health.

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