Climate Change and its Implications for Women's Mental Health
Chapter from the book: Şimşek Küçükkelepçe, D. (ed.) 2026. Impacts of Climate Change on Women’s Health.

Hilal Merve Belen
Lokman Hekim University
Meltem Meriç
Lokman Hekim University

Synopsis

Climate change has a disproportionately severe impact on women's mental health due to gender roles, access to limited economic resources, and structural inequalities. Research shows that environmental stressors act as a "risk multiplier" for women, exacerbating existing social inequalities and increasing their mental burden. In particular, the fact that domestic responsibilities such as water, food, and fuel provision largely fall on women increases their workload and stress levels in the face of drought, temperature increase, and extreme weather events related to climate change. Climate-related stress affects women's mental health not only in social and economic areas but also through biological and physiological processes. Extreme temperatures, food insecurity, and environmental uncertainties have been associated with psychopathological outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is noted that women experience higher levels of psychological trauma after disasters, which is linked to limited freedom of movement, lack of financial independence, and increased risk of gender-based violence. Furthermore, the eco-anxiety created by the climate crisis can cause women to re-evaluate their reproductive decisions; environmental uncertainties can create intergenerational effects on maternal and perinatal mental health. Therefore, the relationship between climate change and women's mental health should be addressed as a multifaceted crisis requiring interdisciplinary and gender-sensitive policies. Reducing socioeconomic barriers for women, strengthening their participation in decision-making processes, and improving mental health services in climate-vulnerable regions are critical to building more equitable and resilient societies.

How to cite this book

Belen, H. M. & Meriç, M. (2026). Climate Change and its Implications for Women's Mental Health. In: Şimşek Küçükkelepçe, D. (ed.), Impacts of Climate Change on Women’s Health. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub1235.c4996

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Published

March 18, 2026

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