Assessing the Presence of Eco-Anxiety in the General Population: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Background/Objectives: Eco-anxiety is emerging as a response to worsening environmental conditions. However, several gaps hinder the estimation of this phenomenon worldwide. This review aims to provide a measure of eco-anxiety control by those factors that may affect its prevalence assessment. Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024556132). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases were interrogated. Cross-sectional studies in English and Italian languages assessing eco-anxiety through validated questionnaires were considered. The quality assessment was conducted using the adapted Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results: Sixty-nine articles published between 2020 and 2025 were included. Of these, 60 studies were meta-analyzed, for a total sample size exceeding 65,000 participants across different countries and cultural contexts. The overall pooled mean eco-anxiety level was approximately 34.8/100 (95% CI: 29.6–39.9), corresponding to a moderate level of eco-anxiety, with women scoring higher than men (p < 0.05). Assessment tool and country were also shown as significant predictors of eco-anxiety, while age did not seem to play a significant role. Conclusions: Though further rigorous research is needed in this field, focusing on these variables could help to design targeted strategies that address environmental concerns and support mental well-being and resilience towards environmental challenges.