First global synthesis of heat-related mental health impacts in children and young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis

作者：Shevonne Kwan, Jacqueline H. Stephens, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, B. Varghese, Kirrilly Thompson, Melinda A. Judge, P. L. Le Souëf, Syeda H. Fatima · 发表于：International Journal of Epidemiology · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1093/ije/dyag121 · 研究领域：Medicine

Abstract Background Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of non-optimal temperatures and heatwaves, posing risks to public health, especially for children and young people. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impacts of (i) non-optimal ambient temperatures and (ii) heatwaves on mental health outcomes in this group globally. Methods We searched five databases for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we selected studies by using the population–exposure–comparison–outcome (PECO) framework (PROSPERO protocol ID CRD42024524650). We performed a random-effects meta-analysis, assessed the risk of bias, and examined variation by age, gender, income, and climate zones. Results Of 23 included studies, 19 examined ambient temperature and 4 examined heatwaves. A 1°C increase in daily ambient temperature was associated with a 0.9% increase in morbidity-related mental health outcomes across varied healthcare encounters and diagnoses (relative risk = 1.009; 95% confidence interval: 1.003–1.016). Children aged 5–18 years were most vulnerable, with a 1.5% increased risk associated with high temperatures (1.005–1.026) and 25% increased risk during heatwaves (1.006–1.561). Climate-zone analyses showed that children and young people in humid subtropical and hot-summer continental zones had the highest risks from high temperatures (1.004–1.036 an...