Exploring adolescents’ waste prevention via Value-Identity-Personal norm and Comprehensive Action Determination Models

Abstract

We explored to what extent two theoretical approaches – general (i.e., the Value-Identity-Personal norm model), and behavior-specific (i.e., the Comprehensive Action Determination Model) can explain different waste prevention behaviors. In Study 1 we investigated bottled water consumption, while in Study 2 we investigated bag reuse when shopping, giving away or selling unused items, and purchasing unpackaged goods. The results of Study 1 (349 adolescents from 13 to 18 years of age (54.7% were female), convenience sample) and Study 2 (508 adolescents from 13 to 17 years of age (49% were female), nationally representative random sample) indicated that both approaches predict behaviors substantially well. Among other factors, biospheric values, environmental self-identity, social norm, personal norm, and habit were found to be the most prominent contributors for their models. Both general and behavior-specific approaches have value in informing policies for lowering adolescents’ waste generation and potentially could be used in tandem.