A new global review reveals that rising temperatures and heatwaves are increasingly associated with poorer mental health outcomes in young people, prompting calls for targeted climate adaptation measures to protect children’s well-being.
New research has found that scorching temperatures and heatwaves are linked with poorer mental health in children and adolescents, adding a psychological dimension to the public health risks posed by a warming climate. The review, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, is described by the authors as the first global synthesis to examine the relationship between high temperatures, heatwaves and mental health in young people. It analysed 23 studies from around the world and found that adverse mental health outcomes rose by almost 1% for every 1°C increase in daily temperature.
The strongest effects were seen among five- to 18-year-olds, who appeared to be the most exposed group. According to the review, their risk of poor mental health outcomes increased by 25% during heatwaves and by 1.5% when temperatures were higher than average. The findings build on earlier reviews showing that extreme heat can affect children in multiple ways, from heat-related illness to impaired school performance and higher rates of emergency care.
Researchers involved in the study said the reasons are likely to be both physical and social. Flinders University epidemiologist Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens said children are more vulnerable because heat can disrupt sleep, outdoor activity, schooling and routine, while also increasing stress within families. She said adolescents may be especially sensitive because this is a key period for mental health development. Harvard public health researchers have similarly noted that children are less able than adults to protect themselves during extreme heat and are more susceptible to heat stress because of their developing bodies.
The review also suggests the burden is not evenly distributed. The authors found higher risks in richer countries, which they said may reflect urban heat islands and greater use of health services, while weaker effects in middle-income countries could point to under-reporting rather than lower vulnerability. Co-author Corey Bradshaw said the evidence supports integrating mental health into climate adaptation plans and developing targeted responses for young people, including interventions at scale in countries such as Australia, where severe heat is becoming more common.
Dr Syeda Hira Fatima said the next step is to understand more precisely where children are exposed to heat in daily life and to identify practical protections. She pointed to cooler classrooms, better ventilation and shaded outdoor spaces as possible measures, while the authors cautioned that the evidence on heatwave-related mental health outcomes still needs to be interpreted carefully until more research is available.
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