Association of socioeconomic factors, state of the environment and disaster occurrences with environmental attitudes in Kerala, India

Abstract

Comparison of Environmental attitudes (EA) and their correlation with socioeconomic factors is generally undertaken at a country level. This study captures the differences between EA using micro-level data in the context of Kerala, a fast-urbanising, disaster-prone state in India. In addition to the association of EA with the often-explored socio-economic factors, correlation of state of the environment and disaster occurrences with EA between the 14 administrative districts in Kerala state is explored. EA are measured using Dunlap and Van Liere's New Environmental Paradigm (NEP). After checking for the statistical significance in the mean NEP of the districts, the indicators for socioeconomic, state of the environment and disaster occurrence factors are compiled for the districts from secondary sources. Pearson's correlation coefficients between these and the five facets and the mean of NEP are calculated. The results support the notion that socio economic parameters, especially sex ratio, public health and urbanization levels are related to EA. Income does not appear to have an influence on EA. The correlation between the state of the environment and EA underlines the importance of working simultaneously on both to promote sustainable development. The negative correlation between disaster occurrences and EA is a counter-intuitive finding, pointing perhaps towards the lack of understanding of environmental phenomenon in the most literate state in India.