(PS5-90) Mental health profiles of young adults: the role of climate change-related distress, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion

Abstract Text: Mental health challenges among young adults are increasingly shaped by both internal psychological factors and external stressors, including the climate crisis, wars, and pandemic-related concerns. This study aimed to identify distinct mental health profiles among Polish young adults and examine how climate change-related distress, emotion regulation difficulties, mindfulness, and self-compassion contribute to these profiles. We conducted two large-scale, representative studies.
In Study 1 (N = 1,450), latent profile analysis (LPA) based on life satisfaction (SWLS), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) identified four mental health profiles: (1) Good Mental Health (low PHQ/GAD, high SWLS; 42%), (2) Poor Mental Health (high PHQ/GAD, low SWLS; 5%), (3) Moderate Distress (high PHQ/GAD, moderate SWLS; 17%), and (4) Mild Distress (moderate PHQ/GAD, moderate SWLS; 36%). Individuals in the Good Mental Health class reported significantly higher mindfulness and self-compassion, as well as lower climate change-related distress, compared to those in the Poor Mental Health class. Moreover, the Moderate and Mild Distress groups exhibited higher mindfulness than the Poor Mental Health group, suggesting a potential buffering role of mindfulness in mental health.
In Study 2 (N = 1,105), a three-wave longitudinal design replicated the same four-profile structure and examined the role of crisis-related distress and emotion regulation difficulties (DERS). Higher difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) and greater climate change-related concerns significantly predicted membership in the Poor Mental Health group compared to Good Mental Health.
Additionally, latent transition analysis (LTA) revealed that greater difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) increased the likelihood of transitioning from a more favorable mental health profile to a more distressed profile over time.
These findings highlight the importance of psychological resilience factors in mitigating distress, particularly in the face of climate change crisis. They underscore the need for interventions targeting emotion regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion to support young adults at risk of chronic psychological distress.
This study aligns with ABCT’s focus on cognitive and behavioral therapies by providing valuable directions for clinicians and researchers working with populations experiencing contemporary crisis-related psychological stress.