The ongoing climate crisis poses a growing threat to children's mental health globally. While the physical consequences of climate change have been widely documented, including increased exposure to extreme weather events, pollution, and resource scarcity, the psychological toll remains less explored. This study explores the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses of children aged 7–12 in the context of environmental stressors. It focuses specifically on identifying patterns of psychological reactions that may signal early distress, thereby providing insights for timely interventions. During the study a structured questionnaire comprising 24 dichotomous (yes/no) questions was administered to 100 students from selected schools in Baku. The items were divided into three categories and included emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects. Emotional items included questions related to sadness, irritability, and feelings of hopelessness in response to environmental change. Behavioral items assessed tendencies such as withdrawal from social activities, reduced participation in play, and changes in daily routines. Cognitive items measured experiences such as repetitive thoughts about environmental issues, and worries about the future. This division allowed for a structured comparison between internalized and externalized responses. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test, which indicated statistically significant differences among the three domains (χ²ᵣ(2) = 6.14, p = .047). Emotional responses showed the highest mean score (M = 5.03), followed by behavioral (M = 4.66) and cognitive (M = 4.14) indicators. These findings suggest that children tend to exhibit stronger emotional reactions compared to cognitive or behavioral responses when exposed to ecoclimatic stressors, highlighting early signs of psychological distress and the need for targeted mental health interventions.
Ahadov et al. (2025) studied this question.