Exploring the psychological drivers of sustainable transport consumption: The role of Big-Two personality traits

Abstract

Understanding the psychological factors that influence people’s behavior in using sustainable modes of transportation, e.g., public transport, is crucial for promoting environmentally friendly behavior and mitigating climate change. This study examines the impact of the big-two personality traits (stability and plasticity) on households’ auto transport consumption (ATC) and public transport consumption (PTC), and their mediating role in the relationship between socioeconomic factors (e.g., age, income, education, marital status) and transport consumptions (i.e., ATC and PTC). A triple-hurdle model, including two binary logit models and one structural equation model, is developed using a comprehensive national household survey in Australia. Findings reveal that the stability trait is positively related to ATC (b = 0.253, p < 0.10) and negatively to PTC (b = −0.372, p < 0.001), while the plasticity trait shows a positive association with PTC (b = 0.351, p < 0.001) and is negatively related to ATC (b = −0.296, p < 0.001). The developed analytical framework supports policymakers to identify individuals with stability and plasticity traits, using socioeconomic factors, and to design more-targeted interventions to incentivize specific individuals to use public transport, thus contributing to global efforts toward a sustainable future.