Psychological Factors Influencing Waste Disposal Behaviour Among Residents in Yoruba Speaking Communities of South-Western, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study examined the influence of locus of control, environmental attitude and environmental self-efficacy on waste disposal behaviour. The study used primary data. The study population comprised residents in Ife Central, Ibadan Northwest and Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas (LGAs) in South-western, Nigeria. This study sample consisted of 1200 residents comprising 687 males and 513 females selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Their ages ranged between 15 to 76 years with a mean average age of 24.49 years (SD = 8.51). Data were collected using the Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ), Locus of Control Scale (LOCS), Environmental Attitude Scale (EAS), Environmental Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES, and Waste Disposal Behaviour Scale (WDBS)). The results showed that there was a significant influence of locus of control on waste disposal behaviour (F= 6.20, p < 0.05). The results suggest that there was a significant influence of environmental attitude on waste disposal behaviour (F= 5.34, p < 0.05). They also showed a significant influence of environmental self-efficacy on waste disposal behaviour (F = 21.96, p < 0.05). The study concluded that stakeholders who have waste management as their priority should incorporate information from findings to design behavioural intervention that will improve desirable waste management practices. Implications were discussed for environmental practice and policy.