Background Fuel poverty, defined broadly in this study as a household’s inability to meet their basic energy usage needs, presents a significant challenge as energy prices become more volatile. The link between fuel poverty and physical health is well established. However, the field of research on the ways that fuel poverty impacts mental health is in comparative infancy. In this scoping review, we aimed to map the research to date on the impact of fuel poverty on mental health.

Methods We searched nine academic literature databases (Medline, PubMed Central, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Social Policy Practice, Econlit and the Cochrane Library), as well as four grey literature databases (OpenGrey, Grey Literature Report, WHO publications database, and the government Research for Development Outputs database) on the 29th March 2023 (updated 12^th February 2024) with no date restrictions. Four reviewers completed the screening process: title and abstract (CL, LM), full text (NB, SK). Studies were considered eligible if they focused on both fuel poverty and mental health. No limits to study type were applied. Extraction and synthesis were performed by two reviewers (NB, SK). As is typical of scoping reviews, the quality and potential bias of the studies were not evaluated. We published a protocol for the review on a pre-print platform prior to commencing the search.

Results Of a total 7740 papers retrieved and deduplicated, 50 were retained after full text screening. The studies dated back to 2004, with 60% of studies published in the last three years. In terms of commonly studied geographies, 40% focused on the UK or sub-geography, followed by Spain (15%) and China (11%). Of the included studies, 58% employed a quantitative approach. Conceptualisation and operationalisation of fuel poverty varied across studies and contexts, but was not always clearly defined. All but one of the studies reported some evidence for a detrimental association between fuel poverty and mental health. Explanations for the role of fuel poverty on mental health were various but could broadly be summarised under four headings: economic, social, behavioural and environmental.

Conclusion Research on fuel poverty and mental health has grown substantially over recent years. This review highlights a need for clear and explicit conceptualisation of fuel poverty, in conjunction with consideration of the pathways linking fuel poverty to mental health, to both advance the field and to facilitate research with the potential to improve population health.