Impact of Climate Change on Adolescents' Health Outcomes
An Evidence Gap Map Review
Bibliographic Data
BACKGROUND: The evolving impact of climate change on adolescents' health is a pressing global concern. Climate change's effects on their physical, mental, and social well-being worsen unique developmental challenges for adolescents. This study aims to map existing evidence, identify gaps, and highlight research and intervention needs. METHODS: Following Campbell standards, an evidence gap map (EGM) review was conducted. We searched for global studies on adverse climate events and adolescents aged 10-19 using five databases such as Medline, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, and Scopus from September 1946 to June 01, 2023. Two independent reviewers completed the screening using Covidence software, and a critical appraisal of all included studies. EGM was developed using EPPI Mapper software, which presents a comprehensive overview of climate events and their impact on adolescents' health outcomes. This study protocol was registered in the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (INPLASY) (# INPLASY202410119). FINDINGS: We included 44 studies that explored the impact of climate change on adolescents' health. Most included studies were from Asia (35), with limited evidence from Africa, Australia, and South America (one study each). Earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes were the major climate events impacting adolescents' health and well-being globally (37 studies). However, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat got less attention. Most studies reported climate change's impact on adolescents' mental health (44), with few studies reporting the effect on physiological and psychosocial aspects of adolescents' health and well-being (10). CONCLUSION: The systematic examination reveals significant evidence gaps, particularly in Africa, Australia, and South America, and in climate events like wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat. Most studies focus on mental health, with limited research on physiological and psychosocial aspects. These gaps highlight key areas for future research and targeted interventions at the intersection of adolescent health and climate change.
Alternative medicine · CINAHL · Climate change · Critical appraisal · Environmental health · Global health · MEDLINE · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Public health · Scopus · Systematic review · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Gerontology
The Resilience Activation Framework
Responding to the Impacts of the Climate Crisis on Children and Youth
The 2020 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
Adolescent Well-Being
The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers
Child Abuse in Natural Disasters and Conflicts
The Mental Health Consequences of Hurricane Matthew on Haitian Children and Youth
Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in Adolescents Exposed to the Earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia
Health Status and Risk Factors among Adolescent Survivors One Month after the 2014 Ludian Earthquake
Traumatic experiences and mental health consequences among child survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
Posttraumatic stress disorder and its risk factors among adolescent survivors three years after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in China
Land degradation and poverty
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