Science communication & Media

Podcasts & Interviews

“Dr. Lucia Tecuta: Does climate anxiety cause disordered eating?”

Podcast | Climate Magic | 13 July 2026

In this interview I discuss with Sarah Jacquette Ray, what happens when eating sustainably mixes with the toxic cocktail of body image, thin culture, personal trauma, and that ever-present message that we are never enough? Can climate anxiety cause eating disorders? How does your desire to reduce impact on the planet by eating locally, avoiding meat, or eating “clean” slip into disordered eating? What happens when the environmental action of eating sustainably mixes with the toxic cocktail of body image, thin culture, personal trauma, and that ever-present message that we are just never enough? How can environmentalist messages of restraint, deprivation, asceticism, guilt, moral superiority, purity, anti-consumerism, and the deep shame of being a human on this earth lead to rigid rules about avoiding certain foods, body dysmorphia, and even “orthorexia nervosa”?

https://www.khsu.org/2026-07-13/does-climate-anxiety-cause-disordered-eating

“Climate Therapy in Italy with Camilla Gamba and Lucia Tecuta”

Podcast | Climate Change and Happiness | 6 giugno 2025

Together with Camilla Gamba, I joined Thomas Doherty and Panu Pihkala as guests on their podcast where they bring therapists and researchers into dialogue around climate psychology and eco-therapy. We shared our cosmopolitan journeys, our bicultural backgrounds between Italy and the United States, and the challenges and opportunities of translating concepts such as environmental identity and stewardship into the rich Italian cultural and historical context. The discussion moved between activism and il dolce far niente, offering an inspiring reflection on how care for the planet and care for the self can coexist.

https://climatechangeandhappiness.com/episodes/season-4-episode-22-climate-therapy-in-italy-with-camilla-gamba-and-lucia-tecuta

Intervista per"Il Giusto Clima"con Marianna Usuelli di Radio Popolare

Radio | 26 marzo 2025

L’intervista radiofonica ha preso spunto dal Manuale di Psicologia Climatica della Climate Psychology Alliance, che ho tradotto insieme a Camilla Gamba e Paola Sabatini. Nel corso della conversazione abbiamo esplorato il legame tra salute mentale e cambiamento climatico, affrontando temi come la negazione della crisi climatica, il distanziamento psicologico e le diverse modalità con cui le persone elaborano informazioni e emozioni legate all’emergenza ambientale.

https://podcast.radiopopolare.it/podcast/popolare-ilgiustoclima/ilgiustoclima_26_03_2025_20_30.html

“Psychology of Food Choices”

Podcast | Food and Policies ONFOODS Podcast | 1 ottobre 2024

In the fourth episode of Food and Policies, Maria Elide Vanutelli (University of Milano-Bicocca) interviewed Lucia Tecuta (University of Bologna), a researcher involved in the EATeam Laboratory project (Project "Psychology of food choices: challenges for healthy dietary behavior in general and clinical populations" - PSYFOOD) of OnFoods.

In this episode, Lucia shared insights into the specific project she is working on, which investigates the role of eco-anxiety and concerns about climate change in adopting healthy and sustainable food behaviors, as well as their potential role as risk factors for eating disorders.Studies on eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors are an emerging area in psychology with important implications for promoting sustainability.

https://onfoods.it/magazine/eco-anxiety-and-food-choices-challenges-sustainable-diet-lucia-tecuta-university-bologna

Publications

PSYCHE magazine

La Repubblica

Italian Climate Network: Rubrica Il Clima della Mente

Climalteranti Blog posts:

"Il manuale di psicologia climatica: una guida per affrontare l’impatto psicologico della crisi climatica ed ecologica"

"Eco-ansia: il sottile confine tra motivazione e paralisi"

Scientific Publications

Tecuta, L., Gardini, V., & Tomba, E. (2025). Climate Change Worry and Eating-Related Eco-Concern: A Network Analysis of Psychological and Behavioral Correlates in the General Population. Journal of Eating Disorders.

Del Conte, E., Tecuta, L., & Tomba, E. (2025). Personal Values for Sustainable Eating: A Preliminary Investigation of a Value-Based Planned Behavior Model. Nutrients, 17(13), 2224. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132224

Tecuta, L., Casu, G., & Tomba, E. (2024). Validation of the Italian version of the Eating-Related Eco-Concern Questionnaire: insights into its relationship with orthorexia nervosa. Frontiers in psychology, 15, 1441561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1441561

Tecuta, L., Tomei, G., DiGiuseppe, R., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., & Tomba, E. (2023). Mapping the Path to Cognitive Balance: Applying the States of Mind Model and Network Analysis to Eating Disorder Patients. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(18), 5790. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12185790

Tomba, E., & Tecuta, L. (2023). The sequential approach in eating disorders: A scoping systematic review. European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association, 10.1002/erv.3013. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.3013

Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., & Tomba, E. (2022). The Need to Control Thoughts in Eating Disorder Outpatients: A Longitudinal Study on Its Modification and Association with Eating Disorder Symptom Improvement. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(8), 2205. doi: 10.3390/jcm11082205.

Tecuta, L., Gardini, V., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., & Tomba, E. (2021). Irrational Beliefs and Their Role in Specific and Non-Specific Eating Disorder Symptomatology and Cognitive Reappraisal in Eating Disorders. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(16), 3525. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163525

Tomba, E., Tecuta, L., Gardini, V., & Lo Dato, E. (2021). Mental Pain in Eating Disorders: An Exploratory Controlled Study. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(16), 3584. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163584

Tecuta, L., Gardini, V., DiGiuseppe, R., & Tomba, E. (2020). Do metacognitions mediate the relationship between irrational beliefs, eating disorder symptoms and cognitive reappraisal? Psychotherapy Research, doi: 10.1080/10503307.2020.1831098.

Tecuta L., Fava, G.A., & Tomba, E. (2020). An innovative approach for the assessment of mood disturbances in patients with eating disorders. CNS Spectrums 25(1), 71-78. doi: 10.1017/S1092852919000798.

Tomba, E., Tecuta, L., Crocetti, E., Squarcio, F., & Tomei G. (2019). Residual eating disorder symptoms and clinical features in remitted and recovered eating disorder patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders. doi: 10.1002/eat.23095

Tecuta, L., Tomba, E., Lupetti, A., & DiGiuseppe, R. (2019). Irrational beliefs, cognitive distortions and depressive symptomatology in a college-age sample: A mediational analysis. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 33(2). doi: 10.1891/0889-8391.33.2.116

Cazanescu, D., Tecuta, L., Cândea, D.M., & Szentagotai-Tătar, A. (2019). Savoring as mediator between irrational beliefs, depression and joy. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 37:84–95 doi: 10.1007/s10942-018-0304-8

Tecuta, L. & Tomba, E. (2018). Subjective incompetence as a predictor of treatment outcomes in eating disorder outpatients. Psychiatry Research, 23, 266, 193-198. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.052.

Tomba, E., Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., & Ballardini, D. (2017). Does psychological well-being change with treatment? An exploratory study on outpatients with eating disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 7, 74:61-69. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.01.001

Tomba, E., & Tecuta, L. (2016). Well-Being Therapy in a Patient with Anorexia Nervosa. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(6), 369-370. Doi: 10.1159/000448052

Tomba, E., Tecuta, L., Guidi, J., Grandi, S., & Rafanelli, C. (2016). Demoralization and Response to Psychotherapy: A Pilot Study Comparing the Sequential Combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Well-Being Therapy with Clinical Management in Cyclothymic Disorder. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(1), 56-7. doi: 10.1159/000438674

Tecuta, L., Tomba, E., Grandi, S., Fava, G.A. (2015). Demoralization and its clinical characterization. Psychological Medicine, 45(4), 673-91. Doi: 10.1017/S0033291714001597

Tomba, E., Offidani, E., Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., & Ballardini, D. (2014). Psychological well-being in eating disorder patients: a controlled study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47, 252-258. Doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.01.001.

Koenigsberg, H. K., Fan J., Ochsner, K. N., Liu, X., Guise, K., Pizzarello, S., Dorantes, C., Tecuta, L., Guerreri, S., Goodman, M., New, A., Flory, J., & Siever, L. (2010). Neural correlates of using distancing to regulate emotional responses to social situations. Neuropsychologia, 6, 1813-1822. Doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.03.002.

Koenigsberg, H. K., Fan J., Ochsner, K. N., Liu, X., Guise, K., Pizzarello, S., Dorantes, C., S. Guerrieri, Tecuta, L., Goodman, M., New, A., & Siever, L. (2009). Neural correlates of using distancing to regulate emotional responses to social cues: A Study of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 66, 854-863. Doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.06.010

Presentations at Research Conferences

L. Tecuta, E. Pancioni, A. Ponticelli, E. Tomba. (2025). Oral presentation: Eco-Anxiety and Healthy Dietary Behaviors: The Role of Environmental Identity and Psychological Distress. The European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment 2025-EACLIPT. Frankfurt 28-30 May, 2025.

E. Tomba, L. Tecuta, V. Gardini, D. Ballardini, R. Schumann (2025). Oral presentation: Exploring the intersection of climate change concerns and eating behaviors: new challenges for clinical psychology in the current ecological transition.The European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment 2025-EACLIPT. Frankfurt 28-30 May, 2025.

Tomba, E., Gardini, V., and Tecuta, L. (2024). Oral presentation and abstract: Unveiling the links between eco-concerns, psychological distress and disordered eating: a preliminary network analysis27th World Congress of the International-College-of-Psychosomatic-Medicine (ICPM). Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 93, 114-115.

Tecuta, L. & Tomba, E. (2024). Symposium: Unraveling the role of Eco-Anxiety: From Pro-environmental Behaviors and Orthorexia Nervosa Risk in the General Population to Mental Health Professional Perspectives. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2024, 12(2). Abstract Book of the XXIV Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia Clinica e Dinamica - Salerno 12 -15 settembre 2024. https://doi.org/10.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-4329

Tecuta, L., & Casu, G. (2024). Oral presentation and abstract: Preliminary psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Eating-Related Eco-concern questionnaire. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2024, 12(2). Abstract Book of the XXIV Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia Clinica e Dinamica - Salerno 12 -15 settembre 2024. https://doi.org/10.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-4329

Gardini, V., Tecuta, L., Mori, C., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., & Tomba, E. (2024). Oral presentation and abstract: Is there a relationship between eating-related eco-concerns, dysfunctional eating behaviors and psychological distress? Results from a pilot study with network analysis Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2024, 12(2). Abstract Book of the XXIV Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia Clinica e Dinamica - Salerno 12 -15 settembre 2024.

Tecuta, L., & Tomba, E. (2024). Oral presentation: Unveiling the Link Between Climate Change Concerns and Orthorexia Nervosa Risk through Cluster Analysis: Insights from the Eating-related Eco-Concerns. 52nd British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Annual Conference. Manchester University, 23-26 luglio 2024.

Lo Dato, E., Tecuta, L., Tomba, E. (2024). Eco-guilt about eating predicts alterations in eating behaviors in response to climate change: A preliminary study. [Poster]. EACLIPT 2024, Amsterdam. March 21-22, 2024

Tecuta L., Giuliano T., DiGiuseppe R., Schumann R., Ballardini, D., Tomba E. (2023). Oral Presentation: Equilibrio cognitivo e benessere psicologico nei disturbi del comportamento della nutrizione e dell’alimentazione: una network analysis. XXI Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana Di Terapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale (SITCC) - Bari 21-24 Settembre 2023.

Lo Dato E., Tecuta L., Tomba E. (2023). Oral Presentation: Differenze di genere in credenze razionali e benessere psicologico in pazienti con disturbi della nutrizione e dell’alimentazione: uno studio controllato. XXI Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana Di Terapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale (SITCC) - Bari 21-24 Settembre 2023

Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., DiGiuseppe, R., Tomba, E., (2022). Oral Presentation "La valutazione clinica ed il ruolo di fattori cognitivi nella sintomatologia e trattamento dei disturbi della nutrizione e dell’alimentazione". XII congresso nazionale del gruppo di ricerca in psicosomatica (GRP) – October 21-22, 2022.

Tomba, E., & Tecuta, L. (2021). Oral Presentation "Changes in metacognitions in the Treatment of Eating Disorder Outpatients". 10th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapies, ICCP 2021. May 13th, 2021.

Gardini V., Tecuta L., Morano F., Schumann R., Ballardini D, Tomba E. (2021). Oral Presentation: Rational beliefs and psychological well-being in eating disorders: an experimental controlled study. 10th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapies, ICCP 2021. May 13th, 2021.

Tomba, E., Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., Ballardini, D., Gardini, V. (2019). Oral presentation "Psychological well-being and positive outcomes in eating disorders outpatients" during Symposium “Clinimetric Approach in the Assessment of Eating Disorders: Implications for Treatment Planning”. Abstracts of the 25th World Congress of the ICPM. September 11th-13th, 2019. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 88 (suppl 1):1-152. DOI: 10.1159/000502467

Tecuta, L., Gardini, V., DiGiuseppe, R., Tomba, E., (2019). Oral presentation "Irrational Beliefs and Metacognition in Eating Disorders" during Symposium “Clinimetric Approach in the Assessment of Eating Disorders: Implications for Treatment Planning”. Abstracts of the 25th World Congress of the ICPM. September 11th-13th, 2019. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 88 (suppl 1):1-152. DOI: 10.1159/000502467

Tomba E., Tecuta, L., Schumann, R., & Ballardini, D. (30/06/2017) Open Paper presentation “Psychological well-being changes after CBT-based treatment in outpatients with eating disorders” (category: CBT for diverse populations) at the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Toward Integrative CBT: Implications for Science and Practice. Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Tecuta, L., Tomba E., Schumann, R., & Ballardini, D. (30/06/2017) Open Paper presentation “The role of subjective incompetence in treatment response in eating disorder outpatients” (category: Cognitive processes as causal factors in psychopathology) at the 9th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Toward Integrative CBT: Implications for Science and Practice. Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Tecuta, L. (7/08/2015) presentazione "Demoralization and its clinical characterization" su invito presso il Center for Integrative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College (New York, New York)