Eco-Anxiety and Environmentally-Responsible Consumption in Emerging Adulthood

Major life transitions of today’s emerging adults unfold alongside unprecedented global events, such as environmental crises. Eco-anxiety is reported to compromise mental health of youth and may be linked to a range of behavioral responses to environmental problems. Resilience and perceived dynamic social norms may serve as protective factors. Therefore, in Study 1, cluster analysis was conducted in an emerging adult subsample ( N = 373; M age = 22.40, SD = 3.79) drawn from a representative survey of Lithuanian adults, identifying four profiles characterized by configurations of eco-anxiety, resilience, dynamic social norms, and environmentally-responsible consumption (everyday- and activism-oriented). These profiles were replicated in Lithuania in Study 2 using an independent convenience sample of emerging adults ( N = 423; M age = 21.16, SD = 2.50). Across both studies, profiles included Mobilized Distressed , Adaptive Engaged , Resilient Reserved , and Disengaged . Findings highlight the need for tailored support approaches for emerging adults navigating environmental distress.