New research reveals that escalating heatwaves are not only impacting children’s physical health but also increasing anxiety, mood disorders, and behavioural problems, prompting calls for expanded public health responses.
A growing body of research suggests extreme heat is no longer only a physical threat for children and teenagers, but also a risk factor for mental health problems. A recent study highlighted by Media Indonesia found that hot spells can coincide with higher rates of anxiety, mood changes, impulsive behaviour and aggressive conduct among young people, with hospital and clinic visits rising during periods of intense heat. The report said the strain of trying to regulate body temperature can also disrupt emotion control, concentration and overall wellbeing.
Scientists have long warned that children are especially vulnerable when temperatures surge because their bodies are still developing the ability to manage heat efficiently. According to a scoping review published in 2024 and indexed by PubMed, climate change has driven a steady increase in the frequency of extreme heat events over the past five decades, and researchers say more evidence is needed to understand the full impact on paediatric health. That review analysed 113 studies and found a wide range of health outcomes linked with heat exposure in children.
Earlier evidence points in the same direction. A systematic review published in 2014 found that child mortality does not rise sharply during heatwaves overall, but infants face higher heat-related death risks and babies exposed during the perinatal period may be particularly vulnerable. The review also associated heatwaves with renal disease, respiratory illness, electrolyte imbalance and fever in children, underscoring that heat can affect more than just comfort or hydration.
More recent research is widening the focus to mental health. A January 2024 study examined whether heatwave and drought conditions together worsen mood disorders and suicide-related emergency department visits among children, while a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that a 1 degree Celsius rise in daily ambient temperature was linked with a 0.9% increase in morbidity-related mental health outcomes across different healthcare settings. Taken together, the findings suggest that public health responses to heatwaves may need to include not only cooling measures and exhaustion prevention, but also support for children’s emotional and behavioural health.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
