Predicting Intent to Conserve Freshwater Resources Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Kristin E Gibson,Kyle Maurice Woosnam,Alexa J Lamm,D B Croom

doi:10.3390/w13182581

Kristin E Gibson, Kyle Maurice Woosnam + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w13182581

Copy DOI

Journal: Water	Publication Date: Sep 18, 2021
Citations: 14	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Georgia, Georgia College & State University

Abstract

Freshwater resources are being rapidly depleted by unsustainable human activities in the United States (U.S.), causing concern for water security. If individuals were targeted with appropriate information, public engagement in water conservation may increase. Political affiliation and ideology may play a role in grouping individuals based on their engagement in water conservation, as environmental issues are politically contentious in the U.S. The purpose of the study was to determine if political affiliation, political ideology, and theory of planned behavior variables related to water conservation predicted intent to engage in water conservation. Data were collected from 1049 U.S. residents using non-probability opt-in sampling methods. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the data via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26. The results from a multiple linear regression model revealed that political affiliation, political ideology, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted 27.5% of variance in respondents’ intent to engage in water conservation; however, the variance accounted for was mostly attributed to theory of planned behavior variables. The findings have implications for environmental communication, namely focusing on increasing subjective norms towards water conservation.

Highlights

Introduction and BackgroundEarth’s ecosystems and human life depend on water, yet freshwater resources are rapidly depleting from unsustainable human activities [1]
Describe respondents’ political affiliation, political ideology, attitude towards water conservation, subjective norms around water conservation, perceived behavioral control towards water conservation, and self-reported intent to engage in water conservation behaviors; and Determine if political affiliation, political ideology, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted self-reported intent to engage in water conservation behaviors
Four sections of the survey instrument were pertinent to this study: respondents’ political affiliation and ideology, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward water conservation behaviors, and self-reported intent to engage in water conservation behaviors

Summary

Introduction

Earth’s ecosystems and human life depend on water, yet freshwater resources are rapidly depleting from unsustainable human activities [1]. Many regions of the world over-extract groundwater supplies, experience water stress, and have river systems without adequate freshwater flows [1]. Numerous economic activities, such as energy and food production, require large amounts of freshwater use [2]. Increasing public engagement in water resource protection behaviors is a challenging but essential task for environmental educators and communicators [8]. Minimal environmental behavior changes have resulted from information-only water conservation campaigns in the U.S [10,11,12,13]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion