Protect the environment for impressing others? Understanding whether, why, and when relational mobility shapes individual pro-environmental behaviors

Abstract

Despite a substantial body of literature on pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), there has been an overlook of whether and how broader social contexts (relational mobility in particular) may shape PEBs. Integrating the perspective of the person-context interaction with impression management theory, our research aims to understand whether, why, and when relational mobility, an important societal factor, impacts individual self-reported PEBs. Study 1 utilized a national representative dataset and found that relational mobility was positively associated with PEBs. Study 2 replicated this result using a new sample, and further found that relational mobility increased PEBs via impression management motivation. Finally, Study 3 was conducted with an experimental design, revealing that environmental self-identity strengthened the mediating effect identified in Study 2. The findings highlight that PEBs can be shaped by broader environmental factors via impression management motivation, which provides practical implications for promoting environmental sustainability.