An examination of the factors influencing engagement in gardening practices that support biodiversity using the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

The composition and management of private gardens is critical to conserving and enhancing urban biodiversity, yet little is known about the psychological factors that influence gardening behavior. We apply an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which includes nature connectedness, to predict engagement in gardening practices that support biodiversity. More specifically, we examine the psychological factors that influence people's intention to engage in wildlife gardening and the number of wildlife-friendly garden features in a New Zealand sample (N = 695). Structural equation modeling indicated that the extended TPB is well suited to explaining engagement in wildlife gardening. Perceived behavioral control was the strongest predictor of intention while subjective norm and nature connectedness were also significantly associated with intention. Furthermore, we explored which beliefs influence the predictors of intention. The perception of having information and knowledge as well as time had the strongest association with perceived behavioral control. Subjective norm was predicted by normative beliefs about friends, family, and environmentalists but not neighbors. Our findings provide insights into the psychological factors that influence gardening practices and can inform the design of interventions to increase urban biodiversity. We conclude that the positive effect of nature connectedness on pro-environmental behavior should be considered in designing engagement activities to support biodiversity.