Page 68 - IJPS-10-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Climate change and mental health of adolescents

(Monsour et al., 2022; Sattler & Smith, 2020; Wortzel et al., 1.23 million casualties, 4.2 billion affected (many more
2022). Rapid, massive industrialization, deforestation, than once), and worldwide economic damages of over
and urbanization across the globe have contributed to $2.97 trillion (Yang et al., 2023). The flood sweeps away
increased air pollution and waste generation, consequently everything around, leaving nothing of the property, houses,
driving global climate change (Crowley, 2000; Stern & or crop fields undamaged (Doocy et al., 2013). Thus, flood-
Kaufmann, 2014). As a result, the frequency and severity affected people have to take temporary shelters in nearby
of natural calamities have escalated across the globe. public buildings (shelters) such as schools, government

The effects of natural disasters on the physical buildings, and community centers. Many people huddled
infrastructure and human physical health have been together in very small and congested areas until the
extensively studied (Paraskevopoulou et al., 2022; Wolfson floodwaters receded (Rahman et al., 2015).
et al., 2022). Many researchers have identified the presence Floods affect human physical health (Bei et al., 2013).
of mental shocks due to climate change and natural disasters The previous studies have reported the incidence of malaria
(Heeren & Asmundson, 2023; Obradovich et al., 2018; (Kondo et al., 2002), diarrhea, respiratory problems (Kunii
Sattler & Smith, 2020). However, some are very specific et al., 2002), mild injuries (Duclos et al., 1991), and disaster-
to the mental health effects of adults only (Bozick, 2021; related deaths (Dietz et al., 1990). Besides, scientists have
Burrows et al., 2021). Monsour et al. (2022) explored the assessed the impacts on the mental health of the flood-
impact of climate change-induced tropical cyclone (TC) affected people. They found post-traumatic stress disorder
and sea level rise exposure on the prevalence of mental (PTSD) (Fredman et al., 2010; Verger et al., 2000), anxiety
illness symptoms. They found an elevated risk of mental (Otto et al., 2006; van der Velden et al., 2007), depression
illness symptoms from exposure to high-intensity TCs (Apisarnthanarak et al., 2012; Otto et al., 2006), suicide
and identified demographic variables that may contribute (de Leo et al., 2013), and psychological distress (Wind &
to this risk (Monsour et al., 2022). On the other hand, Komproe, 2012). The aforementioned results provide some
Acheson (2023) reviewed two articles relating to the mental corroboration to the hypothesis regarding the effects of
health implications of climate change for children and calamities on psychological well-being (Cianconi et al., 2020;
young people. The review reveals mixed results regarding Makwana, 2019). The fundamental concept underlying
the effects of climate change on the mental health of young this theory posits that natural disasters or climate change-
people and children (Acheson, 2023). More importantly, induced calamities result in significant environmental
the studies were carried out in the European context. alterations. Consequently, it has an impact on the affected
individuals. This population manifests a range of cognitive
Massive industrialization, deforestation, and urbanization
have altered the planet’s climate by releasing greenhouse alterations and challenges (Taylor & Zarb, 2022).
gases and accumulating various forms of pollution (Sale All previous studies on floods have covered either
& Agbidye, 2011; Singh et al., 2017). Figure 1 shows the climate change impacts on floods or physical health, mostly
conceptual structure of the relationship among the factors focusing on water-borne infections in Bangladesh, due
and effects of climate change. The three factors connected to their prevalence during post-flood seasons (Bingnan
to climate change are industrialization, urbanization, and et al., 1991). However, there have been limited studies on
deforestation (Naz et al., 2021; Raihan et al., 2022). The mental health. Findings from these studies indicate that
effects of climate change have been categorized as global both children’s and adults’ behaviors change drastically
warming and natural disasters. following floods (Durkin et al., 2011; Jahan, 2015).
In South Asia, Bangladesh, as a coastal country, is However, it is still unclear what psychological impacts
one of the victims of climate change and one of the most the floods in Bangladesh have had on adolescents. This
flood-prone countries in the world. Heavy monsoon rain article aims to address this gap in the study. Hence, this
generates frequent floods in the area that harm lives, study analyzed the mental health of adolescents living in
property, crops, and physical infrastructure. Apart from flood shelters during floods through qualitative research.
Bangladesh, India and Pakistan also experience more The following sections of the report cover the flood
frequent floods (Hasnat et al., 2018). Global climate situation in Bangladesh and detail the study’s methodology,
change has increased the frequency, amplitude, and extent findings, discussions, and conclusion.
of floods in South Asia (Mirza, 2011). Between 1985 and
2009, floods accounted for 40% of all natural catastrophes, 1.2. Flood conditions in Bangladesh
resulted in significant financial losses, and affected a large Due to its location and topography, Bangladesh is
number of people (Jonkman & Vrijling, 2008a; 2008b). among the most flood-prone regions on Earth and has
There were 7348 big disasters between 2000 and 2019, with experienced the worst floods in 1988, 1998, 2004, and 2007

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 62 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0339