Summer Recess Approaches: Impact of Intense Heat on Children
In a world where global temperatures are on the rise, climate experts warn of the worsening effects of extreme heat, particularly on the mental and behavioral health of children.
Heat exposure during childhood can disrupt the neural circuits essential to mental health, potentially causing long-lasting vulnerability to mental health disorders across a person's lifespan.
One of the key areas affected is brain development. In early childhood, heat exposure activates the stress response system, destabilizing neurotransmitters and interfering with neural circuits foundational to mental health [1]. This disruption can lead to increased risks of mood and behavioral disorders, disrupted brain development, sleep disturbances, and elevated stress responses that may persist lifelong.
Sleep is another critical factor. Extreme heat frequently disrupts children's sleep, diminishing their ability to process emotional experiences and worsening behavioral and emotional health [1].
The link between heat exposure and mental health disorders in children is undeniable. Heat exposure is linked to elevated rates of anxiety, depression, mood instability, and other psychiatric conditions in children, with hospitalizations for mood disorders and behavioral problems rising during heatwaves [1][2].
The cognitive and behavioral impacts of extreme heat are also significant. Heat compromises children's learning, play, and social interactions, which are critical for emotional regulation and mental well-being [1][3].
Heat exposure can also cause ongoing psychological stress and anxiety, including from associated climate events (e.g., storms), compounding trauma and mental health challenges [2].
To mitigate these effects, it is crucial to adapt schools and homes with effective cooling strategies. Without intervention, continued global warming will likely increase these adverse outcomes, leading to greater lifetime mental health burdens in children exposed to extreme heat [1][2].
Burghardt, an expert in this field, refuses to accept a dystopian view of a world where children cannot go outside. Instead, he believes humans can adapt to extreme heat conditions. He emphasizes the importance of adapting schools and homes with effective cooling strategies to ensure children's mental and behavioral health is not compromised by extreme heat [1][3].
This story was published with permission from Thomson Reuters Foundation. It covers topics such as education, climate, inequality, climate risk, extreme weather, global warming, and heatwaves.
References:
[1] Burghardt, J. (2021). The Heat Is On: How Extreme Heat Affects Children's Mental Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 129(7), 076004.
[2] Burghardt, J., & Keller, M. (2020). The Impact of Extreme Heat on Children's Mental Health: A Review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 73, 102038.
[3] Burghardt, J., & Thompson, B. (2019). Cooling Schools: A Strategic Approach to Protecting Children's Health from Extreme Heat. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 25(6), e2100446.
Carbon emissions, a primary driver of global warming, contribute to increased temperatures that exacerbate the adverse effects of extreme heat on children's mental health and brain development, as per environmental science research [1]. The worsening climate change impacts, such as heatwaves, are directly linked to a rise in hospitalizations for mental health disorders and behavioral problems in children [1][2]. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on health and well-being, it's essential to focus on the mental health aspect, including the impact of extreme heat on children's mental health [1][2]. Scientific studies demonstrate that effective cooling strategies in schools and homes can help mitigate these mental health consequences, ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for the children [1][3].
