The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Climate Anxiety and Related Psychological Distress: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a significant threat to global mental health, giving rise to new psychological phenomena such as climate anxiety, eco-distress, and solastalgia. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIS) have shown promise in treating a wide range of anxiety and stress-related disorders. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the efficacy of ACT and MBIS in reducing climate anxiety and related forms of psychological distress. Methods: A systematic search of Google Scholar, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January ۲۰۲۰ and February ۲۰۲۵. We included studies that evaluated ACT or MBI interventions for climate anxiety or general psychological distress with populations experiencing climate-related concerns. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall effect size (Hedges' g) and to assess heterogeneity. Results: Twelve studies, comprising ۵۶۸ participants, met the inclusion criteria. The overall meta-analysis revealed a large and significant effect of ACT and MB Is in reducing psychological distress (Hedges' g = -۱.۱۸, ۹۵% CI [-۱.۴۱, -۰.۹۵], p <.۰۰۱). Subgroup analysis indicated that interventions specifically targeting climate-related distress showed a slightly larger effect size (g = -۱.۲۴) compared to those targeting general psychological distress (g -۱.۱۱), though this difference was not statistically significant. Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (I² = ۸۸%, p <.۰۰۱). Funnel plot analysis suggested a low risk of publication bias. Conclusion: ACT and MBIS are highly effective interventions for alleviating climate anxiety and related psychological distress. These findings provide strong empirical support for the application of acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based processes in addressing the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. Future research should focus on long-term efficacy, diverse populations, and the specific components of these therapies that drive therapeutic change.

کلیدواژه ها:

Climate Anxiety ، Eco-Anxiety ، Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ، Mindfulness ، Meta-Analysis ، Psychological Distress