Will residents’ energy-conservation behavior be continued under perception of behavior outcome? The moderating role of attribution style

Abstract

With the increasing energy consumption of residents, promoting the continuous implementation of energy-conservation behaviors is a critical issue. This study explores how perceived behavior outcomes influence the subsequent implementation of household energy-conservation behaviors and the moderating mechanism of residents’ attribution style. Based on attribution theory and planned behavior theory, it proposes a model of the impact mechanism of perceived behavior outcome on household energy-conservation behaviors. A total of 1254 valid questionnaires were obtained and analyzed using hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling. The results show that household energy-conservation behaviors have significant effects on perceived behavior outcome. And economic value perception and emotional value perception have significant feedback effects on energy-conservation intention and household energy-conservation behaviors. Meanwhile, the feedback effect of perceived behavior outcome on energy-conservation intention and efficiency investment energy-conservation behaviors is positively moderated by the attribution style of perceived behavior outcome. Finally, some relevant policy recommendations are put forward.