Health psychology can offer significant insights into promoting and advancing environmental health through education and enhancement of our understanding of pro-environmental behavior. In addition, applications of health behavior change models attempt to explain pro-environmental behavior (mitigation behaviors), while integrating health and environmental psychology could expand behaviors that seek to prevent the negative effects of environmental issues on human health (adaptation behaviors). Both fields are involved in explaining mitigation & adaptation behaviors.

Health psychology's impact on environmental health

It is well known among scientists that exposure to toxic chemicals can affect physical health. In addition, more recent studies indicate that these chemicals can impact long-term mental health, especially if exposed to toxic compounds during childhood.

Mental Health and Exposure to Toxins

Although not classified as a specific disorder, some researchers have begun to see that global warming is causing mental health problems for many people, especially those most affected by environmental destruction. This idea has been referred to as "climate grief." Climate grief most often manifests as some form of depression or anxiety.

Climate Grief

This includes the intersection of environmental health in other fields of studies and research. Such fields include
- Environmental Sciences
- Health Psychology


Interdisciplinary Connections to Environmental Health

A field that explores, assesses and seeks to control the harmful effects people have on their environment and inversely, the harmful impact the environment has on people. Addresses environmental issues (biodiversity, climate change) and health issues (vector-borne diseases and heat- and flood-related deaths). 

Syracuse University

Michigan State University

The 6 Primary types of health include
-	Emotional Health
-	Environmental Health
-	Mental Health
-	Physical Health
-	Social Health
-	Spiritual Health


Primary Types of Health

Inauen, J., Contzen, N., Frick, V., Kadel, P., Keller, J., Kollmann, J., Mata, J., & van Valkengoed, A. M. (2021). Environmental issues are health issues: Making a case and setting an agenda for environmental health psychology. European Psychologist, 26(3), 219–229. https://doi-org.libezproxy2.syr.edu/10.1027/1016-9040/a000438

Environmental Issues Are Health
Issues: Making a Case and Setting an Agenda for Environmental
Health Psychology

Environmental Health

Emotional Health encapsulates all feelings regarding all aspects related to oneself and their life. Regulation and management of these feelings and the subsequent emotions produced is central to the maintenance of emotional health.

Emotional Health

A subcategory of overall health relating to one's emotional well-being by one's ability to successfully overcome everyday stressors, to realize one's inner potential, and to work in a manner that gives back to the self and to their community.

Mental Health

Physical Health includes the management of the state and functioning of the physical body in an effort to promote wellness and comfortability in the ways one lives their life.  

Physical Health

Social Health considers the types and strengths of interpersonal relationships that one develops. It also includes one’s ability to create and establish those relationships and the subsequent adaptability to exist comfortably in the social sphere.

Social Health

Spiritual Health refers to the ability for one to develop a sense of inner peace and connection to their place and existence in nature and the greater world. It includes the collection of one’s beliefs as it relates to morality, values, and ethics therefore helping one to define a purpose and navigate throughout life and its challenges. 

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