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Climate Change and Perinatal Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Environmental Exposures, Risk Factors, Protective Processes, and Potential Mechanisms
Abstract
Introduction: Perinatal mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and trauma-related distress, are common conditions with potential long-term consequences for maternal functioning, infant development, and family well-being. Climate change is increasingly recognized as a health threat multiplier through environmental exposures and psychosocial stressors that may affect women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Objective: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize evidence on climate change–related exposures and perinatal mental health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women, with attention to risk pathways, protective factors, and implications for nursing and maternal health services.
Methods: This scoping review followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2010 and March 2025. Eligible studies included qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and quasi-experimental. Human studies involving pregnant women or women up to 12 months postpartum formed the primary synthesis. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data for descriptive and thematic synthesis.
Results: Of 766 records identified, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence was predominantly observational and focused on human populations; animal studies, where identified, provided contextual insight and were not included in the primary synthesis. Five domains emerged: extreme heat and weather events, heat-related psychiatric emergency encounters, wildfire exposure, air pollution, and climate anxiety with climate-related food insecurity. These exposures were generally associated with greater psychological distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and poorer maternal mental health, while social support appeared protective.
Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that climate change–related exposures may be associated with adverse perinatal mental health outcomes through interconnected pathways. However, causal interpretation remains limited. Climate-informed screening, counseling, and social support integration may strengthen climate-resilient perinatal mental health services.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jpki.v12i1.100714
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