Position on Environmental Issues and Engagement in Proenvironmental Behaviors

Abstract

Using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in four communities in Pennsylvania, we tested the following two hypotheses: (1) that differences in sociodemographic characteristics exist among individuals with variant positions on environmental issues; and (2) that individuals with different positions on environmental issues exhibit dissimilar levels of proenvironmental behaviors. Both hypotheses received substantial support. The results indicate that young individuals, the more highly educated, people with higher incomes, and those with liberal political ideologies are more likely than their opposites to maintain proactive positions on environmental issues. The findings also reveal that while both proactive and sympathetic persons engage more frequently in proenvironmental behaviors than do their neutral counterparts, sympathetic individuals partake in these same behaviors less often than do those who expressed proactive positions on environmental issues.