**Background:** Climate change is recognized as both an environmental and psychological crisis, yet research on its psychosocial impacts—particularly among smallholder farmers in developing countries—remains scarce. A 2021 scoping review found that of 120 studies on climate change and mental health conducted between 2001 and 2020, 87 were in high-income countries (34 in Australia, 17 in Canada, 16 in the USA), and only 3% in low-income countries. In Zimbabwe, climate impact studies have focused on crop yields, livestock productivity, and ecosystem changes, but the psychosocial dimension and its implications for sustainable development have been largely overlooked. This study responds to calls by Clayton (2020) and Reyer et al. (2017) to integrate social and psychological impacts into climate assessments and link them to development outcomes.
**Methods:** An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative (EDQ) design was used. Four wards (11, 12, 15, and 20) were purposively selected from nine resettlement wards in Chirumanzu District, Zimbabwe, representing old resettlement, villagised, and self-contained A1 resettlement schemes. Homogenous purposive sampling identified 54 A1 farmers who had experienced climate change impacts. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews conducted in Shona, with detailed notes and audio recordings. Data saturation was reached by the 8th farmer in each ward; interviews continued to the 15th farmer in Wards 11, 12, and 20, but stopped at the 9th farmer in Ward 15 due to an unexpected commotion. Textual data were analyzed using grounded theory with open coding, in vivo coding, and selective coding in Atlas.ti Version 8. Trustworthiness was established through credibility (including irregular cases), transferability (inferential generalization across soil types representative of Southern Africa), dependability (grounded theory approach), and confirmability (detailed note-taking and audio recording).
**Key Results:** Forty psychosocial impacts were identified. Social impacts included: continual decrease in yield leading to food shortages, skipped meals, tensions among children over food, no surplus to sell, financial constraints, money-induced conflicts among married couples, dependence on donor support and borrowing, exchanging clothes and property for food, and hand-to-mouth survival. Psychological impacts were grouped into four code groups: (1) Negative feelings—frustration, hopelessness, feeling defeated, regret, guilt, discouragement, shame, unbearable circumstances; (2) Uncontrollable feelings—worry, fear, embarrassment, intimidation; (3) Passive feelings—belief in divine punishment, feeling lost, bereavement, poverty prospects, hurt, worthlessness, failure, desperation, resigned acceptance, sadness, coming to terms; (4) Forceful feelings—anger, thoughts of abandoning farming, relocating to urban areas or neighboring countries, or illegal gold panning. The psychosocial impacts were found to potentially affect five Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender equality), and SDG 13 (Climate action).
**Clinical Implications:** While this is not a clinical study, the findings have direct relevance for mental health and psychosocial support in rural agricultural communities. The identified psychological impacts—including heightened negative emotions, loss of self-efficacy, hopelessness, and maladaptive coping—represent risk factors for mental health disorders. Farmers exhibited low behavioral control and low self-efficacy, which are known barriers to adaptive action. The study highlights that climate change generates not only material deprivation but also profound psychological distress that undermines resilience. The author recommends national governments develop support mechanisms such as training and awareness programs, expanded extension services, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing groups, formal and informal cooperatives, and neighbor/community support programs to mitigate psychosocial impacts and protect sustainable development in emerging rural communities.