As awareness of climate change continues to grow, many individuals, particularly young people, are experiencing eco-anxiety—a psychological response characterized by fear and distress related to environmental deterioration. While eco-anxiety can serve as a motivator for pro-environmental behaviors, it also poses significant risks to mental well-being if left unaddressed. This study investigates the relationships between eco-anxiety, nature-relatedness, psychological flexibility, well-being, and pro-environmental behaviors in young adults.

Through a mixed-methods approach involving both quantitative and qualitative data, this research seeks to deepen our understanding of how eco-anxiety affects mental health and sustainable behavior. Psychological flexibility, an individual’s ability to adapt to stressors and maintain value-driven actions, will be a central focus of the study. This research will explore whether psychological flexibility mediates or moderates the impact of eco-anxiety on well-being and pro-environmental actions, offering critical insights into the mechanisms that underlie this complex relationship.

The findings are expected to contribute significantly to the growing literature on eco-anxiety by highlighting the psychological processes that influence its effects. This research will also address an important gap in the field by examining these dynamics in a collectivist cultural context, such as Turkey, where environmental challenges and cultural factors intersect uniquely. Understanding these relationships will provide valuable guidance for future intervention designs aimed at fostering psychological flexibility and promoting positive environmental actions.