Exposure to climate-related stressors undermines mental health in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: a cross-sectional study.

Exposure to extreme weather events significantly predicted increased PTSD symptom levels in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

• Multiple linear regression analysis yielded β = 0.23, p = 0.008 for the association between extreme weather event exposure and PTSD symptoms.
• The finding remained significant after accounting for potential confounders.
• PTSD symptoms were measured using the PCL-5 scale.
• The final sample included N = 608 adults aged 18–75 years.

Climate-related homelessness was significantly associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and PTSD.

• Climate-related homelessness predicted depression symptoms (β = 0.38, p = 0.014), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.42, p = 0.007), psychological distress (β = 0.32, p = 0.042), and PTSD (β = 0.39, p = 0.010).
• All associations were identified through multiple linear regression and remained significant after accounting for potential confounders.
• Depression was measured with the PHQ-8, anxiety with the GAD-7, and psychological distress with the K10.

Heatwaves, droughts, and dust storms were the most frequently reported extreme weather events among participants in the Kurdistan Region.

• These three event types were identified through descriptive analysis of the study sample.
• Iraq is ranked as the world's fifth most climate-vulnerable country, and the Kurdistan Region has been increasingly affected by frequent and intense extreme weather events.
• Participants were recruited from three governorates: Duhok (32.9%), Erbil (33.9%), and Sulaymaniyah (33.2%).

The study recruited 608 adults from urban and rural areas across three governorates in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

• Participants were aged 18–75 years; 51.6% were male and 48.4% were female.
• The sample was drawn from Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah governorates.
• An analytical cross-sectional design was used, with data collected via a questionnaire integrating several validated psychological scales: PHQ-8, GAD-7, K10, PCL-5, and CC-MMDS.
• The original recruited sample was N = 618, with the final analytic sample being N = 608.

This study provides the first rigorous empirical evidence on the mental health impacts of climate change in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

• Despite rising exposure to extreme weather events, the mental health impacts of climate change in the Kurdistan Region had remained largely understudied prior to this work.
• The authors describe their findings as 'the first rigorous empirical evidence from the region.'
• Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA for group comparisons, and multiple linear regression for associations.