Ecological Paradigm Research Articles

Roles of Personal Values and Information Technology Usage in Forming the University Students’ View of Environmental Sustainability: A Preliminary Regional Study of Economics and Business Students

This study focuses on two significant factors shaping university students’ perception of environmental sustainability. Those are (a) personal values, measured by the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and (b) the usage of and proficiency in information technology. Personal values have been widely used to analyze individual perspectives toward various issues, including environmental ones. As contemporary social arrangements include significant influences from social networks and mobile phone usage, overall engagement with technology becomes an essential factor affecting university student attitudes and behaviors. While the individual impact of those factors can be found in the extant literature, we look into their interaction concerning university student pro-environmental attitudes, measured by the Revised NEP (New Ecological Paradigm) Scale, and their environmental self-efficacy. Our sample comes from the population of undergraduate business and economics students from Central and Southeast Europe, specifically Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. We discuss our findings in the context of previous studies from the same regions and consider the unique socio-economic factors. The research results address Sustainable Development Goals 4 (quality education), 12 (responsible consumption and production), and 13 (climate action) by analyzing the factors contributing to university student pro-environmental attitudes and their self-efficacy in the context of their information technology usage and proficiency.

Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development: Evidence from a Survey of Lithuanian and Ukrainian Students

This research aims to analyse and compare students’ attitudes to environmental care in Lithuania and Ukraine using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The study also explores gender differences in environmental attitudes among students, and evaluates these attitudes using the Index of Environmental Care Attitudes. The findings reveal similarities and differences between Lithuanian and Ukrainian students, with Lithuanian students demonstrating higher ecological knowledge and a more environmentally conscious world-view. However, Ukrainian students show positive trends in engagement with environmental education. Gender-based disparities indicate that female students consistently exhibit stronger environmentally conscious behaviour. The study highlights the potential for Ukrainian universities to enhance sustainability initiatives and capitalise on the growing environmental consciousness among students. Overall, the research paves the way for targeted interventions and improvements in fostering sustainable practices in university settings.

Eco-Leadership in Action: Integrating Green HRM and the New Ecological Paradigm to Foster Organizational Commitment and Environmental Citizenship in the Hospitality Industry

The 21st century has spotlighted environmental sustainability in global discourse, urging businesses to act responsibly amidst climate change and resource depletion. This study explores the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in fostering the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) among employees, enhancing organizational commitment (OC), and promoting organizational citizenship behavior towards the environment (OCBE) within the hospitality industry. Findings demonstrate that GHRM practices, including green recruitment, training, and performance management, significantly improve environmental performance and employee engagement in sustainability initiatives. Data were collected from 382 employees working in 5-star hotels in South Korea, utilizing a structured online survey to gather insights into GHRM’s influence on NEP, OC, and OCBE. The analysis was conducted using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to rigorously test the hypothesized relationships among these constructs. However, integrating GHRM with NEP presents challenges, such as aligning organizational culture with eco-centric values and overcoming resistance to change. Motivated by the urgent need for sustainability, this research underscores the necessity for integrated HRM approaches to achieve sustainability. A key motivation behind this integration is to establish a workforce that not only understands but actively champions environmental stewardship, thereby strengthening the organization’s reputation and competitive advantage. Additionally, challenges such as balancing short-term operational costs with long-term environmental goals persist, requiring strategic commitment and effective resource allocation. Recommendations include embedding sustainability in HR policies, providing comprehensive environmental training, incentivizing green initiatives, establishing robust monitoring systems, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration to reduce the ecological footprint. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable business practices and highlights the strategic importance of eco-leadership.

Measuring Nurses' Knowledge and Awareness of Climate Change and Climate-Associated Diseases: Systematic Review of Existing Instruments.

As early as 1995, the Institute of Medicine suggested that nurses were inadequately prepared for and educated about climate change and its health consequences. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the most reliable, robust, and valid instruments for measuring nurses' knowledge and awareness of climate change and climate-associated diseases. Included studies were appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool and the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies. The psychometrics and clinimetrics of the instruments were evaluated using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist and the COSMIN methodology for assessing content validity. Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Ebesco, Cochrane Library Wiley, Web of Science Core Collection, Trip Database, JBI OVID SP, GreenFILE EBSCO, Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and DART-EU were consulted. The 14 studies retained identified eight different instruments evaluating attitudes, perceptions, environmental awareness, environmental sensitivity, environmental attitudes, behaviours, motivation, concern, optimism, and experience. This review is reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEPS) and the Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool (CHANT) are the most reliable, robust, and valid instruments for measuring nurses' knowledge and awareness of climate change and climate-associated diseases.

Cross-Cultural Applications of the New Ecological Paradigm in Protected Area Contexts

Working mostly in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries, environmental psychologists have developed scales assessing relationships between pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. Working in Tanzanian and Indonesian protected area landscapes, containing important biodiversity and conflict over human-nature interactions, we investigate the utility of the New Ecological Paradigm for measuring pro-environmental beliefs and understanding support for protected area regulations. We found the New Ecological Paradigm ineffective at measuring pro-environmental beliefs in both countries; in Tanzania due to acquiescence bias, and in Indonesia exploratory factor analysis supported none of the original factors, with 4 of 15 statements loading onto a novel “eco-fragility” factor. Individual statements in both countries and the eco-fragility factor in Indonesia were weakly correlated with support for protected area regulations, highlighting while elements of the New Ecological Paradigm can improve understanding of support for protected area regulations, care must be taken when applying psychometric tools in novel cultural contexts.

Adaptation of Belk’s materialism scale to the Polish population and assessment of relationships between materialism, values, religiosity, and pro-environmental beliefs

ABSTRACT According to Russell Belk’s conceptualisation, materialism is a personality trait reflected in possessiveness, envy, and non-generosity. The aim of the study was to adapt Belk’s Materialism Scale (BMS) to the Polish population, specifically, to evaluate its psychometric properties (factor structure and reliability) and convergent and divergent validity. Also, we aimed to examine relationships between materialism and values (according to Schwartz’s theory), religiosity, and pro-environmental beliefs (within the New Ecological Paradigm). We conducted two studies: the adaptation study I (N = 770) and the hypotheses-testing study II (N = 568). In Study I, we performed confirmation and exploration factor analyses (CFA and EFA) and established a convergent validity (with the Richins & Dawson’s Materialism Value Scale) and a discriminant validity (with the Jaworska-Gruszczyńska’s Time Organization Scale). After modifying the initial model of the materialism scale, based on error covariance and changes in the number of items, we developed the Polish version of the BMS, which proved its applicability in the Polish population. The Study II results showed that materialism positively related to self-enhancement value, while it negatively related to openness to change and self-transcendence values, and religiosity.

A look at the link between bio-altruistic values and pro-environmental attitude in university students

The growing environmental concern has highlighted the need to adopt pro-environmental behaviors. Despite previous research on the relationship between environmental values and attitudes, the connection between bio-altruistic values and pro-environmental attitudes in university students remains to be explored. The general objective of this study was to analyze the link between bio-altruistic values and pro-environmental attitudes in university students, and the specific objectives were to evaluate the levels of these variables in different dimensions. Using a correlational design, the New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP) and the Multiple Motives for Environmental Protection Scale (MEPS) were administered to 706 students from three public universities in northern Peru. The results revealed that 90.5% of the students exhibited "Good" levels of bio-altruistic values, and the majority showed positive pro-environmental attitudes. The research evidenced a significant association between bio-altruistic values and pro-environmental attitudes, suggesting that as bio-altruistic values increase, pro-environmental attitudes tend to be more positive toward the environment. These findings support previous research, highlighting the positive influence of bio-altruistic values on pro-environmental attitudes. The importance of educational and psychological factors is highlighted, underscoring the need for educational strategies to foster bio-altruistic values. It is concluded that cultivating these values in students can be crucial to promoting pro-environmental behavior and attitudes and advocating their inclusion in educational programs and public policies to build a more sustainable society.

The role of value, belief and norm in shaping intentions to use residential rooftop solar for environment sustainability

The ongoing climate crisis presents a formidable global challenge, driving the urgent need for both technological advancements and a deeper understanding of the psychological factors that influence sustainable energy practices. Among the various technologies available, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are pivotal in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the adoption of residential rooftop solar systems, particularly from a psychological perspective, remains underexplored. Hence, this study aims to investigate the influence of personal values, beliefs, and norms on the intention to adopt residential rooftop solar systems. By integrating the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) framework with Norm Activation Theory (NAT) and the norm internalization process, the research seeks to provide a more nuanced understanding of the environmental and sustainability context. This study employs a non-probability purposive sampling method, collecting 303 valid responses from individuals who do not currently use residential rooftop solar systems, live in landed houses, and are involved in primary household decision-making. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS software. The findings confirm all hypothesized relationships, except for the impact of egoistic values on both the new ecological paradigm and awareness of consequences, as well as the influence of descriptive norms on personal norms. This paper introduces a novel approach by adapting the VBN model to predict the intention to use residential rooftop solar systems through several key modifications: integrating ecological values and openness to change, establishing connections between different values and beliefs (such as altruistic, biospheric, egoistic, openness to change, and ecological values) and awareness of consequences, and incorporating the influence of response efficacy, injunctive social norms, and descriptive norms in positively shaping personal norms.

Post-Pandemic Shifts in Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors in a Marine Protected Area

Interest in understanding environmental attitudes and behaviors after traumatic events has been widely studied, but research specific to the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded inconclusive results. This study addresses a gap by exploring the relationship between COVID-19 and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in marine protected areas (MPAs), which are vital for preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity. We focus on scuba divers’ environmental attitudes and behaviors within an MPA, using a mixed methodology that combines surveys based on the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale with covert participant observation. Our findings indicate a moderate increase in pro-environmental concerns post-pandemic, particularly regarding nature’s fragility. However, a gap remains between expressed attitudes and actual behaviors, with notable differences in pro-ecological behavior during leisure activities compared to behavior at home. Additionally, risk perception related to COVID-19 has gained prominence, often overshadowing environmental concerns. This study contributes to a better understanding of environmental attitudes and behaviors in the context of MPAs during the ongoing social changes post-COVID-19. These insights can guide more sustainable management of MPAs and inform future research, which should further explore these trends in similar contexts.

Behind the designs: An exploration of sustainability attitudes among interior design students in Jordan

This research is an attempt to understand where interior design students in Jordan and the Middle East Region stand in the sustainable thinking process through education and practice and if their education on sustainability and environmental issues is enough or if it needs more development in terms of interior design programs curriculums to be more effective sustainable interior designers. The survey instrument was used to assess the attitudes of interior design students toward ecological responsibility and environmental sustainability; a modified New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP) was used in this research. Students enrolled in interior design programs at a Northern Jordanian university were surveyed. The sample comprised 160 interior design students from different levels of an interior design program at a public university in Jordan. In the study’s sample, the students showed more interest in the negative effect of human usage of many of the planet's resources and how this will impact the planet's ecological system. This attitude provides insight into the students’ minds regarding where they have those ideas. As design students, this can motivate them to take a proactive stand toward sustainability, which may be done through their projects in the future. However, many participants did not understand sustainable practices and strategies. This can be due to the lack of sustainability training at the university level.Based on the NEP score distribution in each section, it can be concluded that students support the concept of sustainability and reject the destruction happening to the planet. This data shows an increased awareness of environmental and ecological problems, which can positively push design students and future designers to adapt sustainable design strategies to their projects.

Exploring ecocentrism and anthropocentrism beliefs of Gen Z: An Indonesian context

This study delved into ecological awareness among Generation Z using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale to discern ecocentric and anthropocentric environmental beliefs. The data was collected from 545 students across state and private universities with categorization based on gender, age group, year level, study program and area of residence employing a quantitative research approach. A five-point Likert-type NEP scale comprising 15 items was administered through Google Forms ensuring representation from each study program. Statistical analysis conducted using SPSS for Windows 23.0 employed independent sample T-tests to evaluate differences in Gen Z's ecological awareness. The results revealed significant disparities in Gen Z's awareness across dimensions including reality, growth limits, anti-anthropocentrism, the fragility of nature's balance and the possibility of an eco-crisis with variations observed based on study programs. Furthermore, age groups influenced awareness of the limits of growth and the possibility of an eco-crisis while gender played a role in awareness of the problem of the limits of growth. Gen Z's ecological orientations depicted differences in ecocentric beliefs by year level and anthropocentric values varied based on area of residence. These findings offer valuable insights into students' alignment with ecological principles and environmental awareness. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable practices and environmental education by enhancing our understanding of how individuals particularly university students, perceive and respond to ecological and environmental challenges.

Air Quality Index, Personality Traits and Their Impact on the Residential Satisfaction and Quality of Life: An Exploratory Path Analysis Model

The environment directly influences the behaviour, experiences, and also the well-being of people. It is not only the outside environment but the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) that also affects the well-being of its residents (Arif et al., 2016). The objective of the present study is to study the relationship between Air Quality Index (AQI), Personality traits, Residential Satisfaction, and quality of life among participants living in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi NCR. A total of 685 residents aged 18-65, living in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi NCR for over 2 years, who responded to the call for participation were selected for the study. Data was collected through online Google forms. Correlation and regression analysis were carried out to understand the strength and direction of the relationship between study variables. SPSS AMOS was used to estimate the measurement model and capture mediation paths. The results present an exploratory model which identifies air quality index and personality traits and their contribution towards the perceptions of residential satisfaction. The study also establishes a link between residential satisfaction and quality of life, the new ecological paradigm, and the dominant social paradigm. The present study highlights the necessity to adopt a pro-environmental approach to improve the quality of life.

Tradition, Scripture, and Environmental Destruction: Transformation of Ecological Paradigm in Rural Society of Bangka Island

Tradition, Scripture, and Environmental Destruction: Transformation of Ecological Paradigm in Rural Society of Bangka Island

Building narrative huts, reading in the active voice in secondary school

In her book Croire aux fauves, Nastassja Martin recounts her encounter with the wild world. This initiatory tale is part of what Jean-Christophe Cavallin, in his climatic map of literature, has called the pole of otherness. There are a number of advantages to offering it as a cursive reading to secondary school pupils, since as well as being an autobiographical story, a genre favoured by teenagers, it can help to transform their representations. In this article, we will first show that the reader is confronted with a narrative that imposes a triple displacement: geographical, anthropological and ontological. We will then consider the ways in which readers can become part of an ecocritical literary transmission. Finally, we will look at the possibility of constructing narrative huts, textual shelters as well as places capable of housing the beginnings of a new literary and ecological paradigm.

Animals as Intentional Political Agents and God’s Warriors in Sign-Themed Qurʾānic Narratives

Abstract Taking its cue from the Islamic Ecological Paradigm, deeply rooted in Islamic religious traditions, which emerged more than 1400 years ago, this paper reimagines the human-nonhuman relationship against the backdrop of the arguably assumed superiority of mankind in (Islamic) theological discourses. Using Qurʾānic narratives as a key point of divergence in the natural superiority of man within the idea of vicegerency, we argue that the Qurʾān’s egalitarian ethos presents animals as ‘intentional political agents’ (Pepper 2021: 30) independent of human intercession. This agency enables them to be key players in deciding the outcomes of political conundrums; in so doing, it also rebuts and destabilises arrogant anthropocentric presuppositions associated with the idea of vicegerency. We particularly read, in ‘signs themed’ Qurʾānic narratives, a dynamic relationship between humans and animals through the animal’s role as Allah’s warriors and agents against human oppressors and transgressors. Drawing on the Islamic Ecological Paradigm, Angie Pepper’s idea of intentional political agency and Sarra Tlili’s de-anthropocentric reading of the Qurʾān, we suggest that the Qurʾān robustly invites humans to reflect on the animal world by foregrounding animals as political agents while epitomising human accountability and responsibility towards them instead of establishing a relationship of dominance.

Envisaging Participatory Management in Protected Areas: Local Response to Proposed Conservation Actions in Relation to Environmental Orientation

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for the sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision-making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for the detection of aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research—in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project—measures the local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros island (Greece), in relation to recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e., promoting (a) nature protection, (b) agro-pastoralism and (c) ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears to be disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. The local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, the implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities and the preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education and interactive informing and consultation, could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

Testing metabolic cold adaptation and the climatic variability hypothesis in two latitudinally distant populations of a supratidal water beetle

Temperature significantly impacts ectotherm physiology, with thermal tolerance and metabolic traits typically varying with latitude across species ranges. The drivers of this variation remain unclear, however, despite obvious consequences for population persistence and conservation in the face of ongoing global change. This study explored local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity of metabolic rates and thermal limits in the supratidal rockpool beetle Ochthebius lejolisii. Using populations from localities at different ends of the species range that experience contrasting thermal variability, we simultaneously tested two of the major paradigms of spatial physiological ecology: metabolic cold adaptation (MCA) and the climatic variability hypothesis (CVH). Reciprocal acclimation was conducted under spring temperature regimes of both localities, incorporating local diurnal variation. Metabolic rates were measured by closed respirometry, and thermal tolerance limits estimated through thermography. In line with MCA, the higher-latitude population (colder climate) showed higher metabolic rates and temperature coefficients (Q10s) at lower temperatures than the lower-latitude population. As predicted by the CVH, the lower-latitude population (more variable climate) showed higher upper thermal tolerance but only the higher-latitude population was able to acclimate upper thermal limits. This result suggests trade-offs between physiological thermal limits and thermal plasticity in this species. A limited acclimation capacity could make populations on Mediterranean coasts especially vulnerable in the face of projected increases in extreme temperatures under ongoing climate change.

Ecological Religious-Cultural: New Direction of Ecological Paradigm in the Integration Frame of Maqashid Sharia and Tapanuli Indigenous Religious Concepts

The ecological paradigm in this context refers to an approach that combines environmental principles with religious values and local wisdom in an effort to maintain ecological sustainability and build harmonious relationships between humans and nature. This study used an integrative approach with convergence analysis. In the mechanism of this approach, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Tapanuli indigenous religious concepts are used in a complementary manner in building a paradigm to achieve ethical goals related to ecology. The result of the integration of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and the traditional religious concept of Tapanuli found that Mangholongi Bona Bulu as a new religious ethic in responding to ecology. The shift from a pseudo-paradigm to an objective is a necessity in building a sustainability ecology. This study makes an important contribution to the development of ecological-religious cultural theory and practice, as well as providing a deeper understanding of religious values and local wisdom in the context of the environment. The implications of this research are the importance of incorporating ecological perspectives in the development of sustainable policies and practices, as well as the need to explore and respect religious traditions and local wisdom in maintaining ecological balance and strengthening human relationships with nature.

Exploring influences of environmental information, beliefs and self-efficacy on nurses' climate health behaviours and their relationships.

To create a healthy nursing environment and protect human health in response to climate change, it is essential to encourage behaviour change among nurses. Although numerous studies have been conducted on nurses to address climate change, few studies have explored the relationships of factors that influence and promote nurses' climate health behavioural behavioural change, making it difficult to determine how nurses should act and prioritise regarding climate health behaviours. To investigate influential environmental factors on climate health behaviours among nurses through the causal relationships between environmental information, environmental beliefs and environmental self-efficacy using the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (IMB) model. A cross-sectional study. This study recruited 186 nurses working in hospitals nationwide in July 2023. Self-reported questionnaires (Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool; National Environmental Consciousness Survey; New Ecological Paradigm Scale; Personal Efficacy Scale) were used to collect the data. Path analysis was performed. The factors influencing nurses' climate health behaviours were environmental information, environmental beliefs and environmental self-efficacy. Environmental self-efficacy was found to be more influenced by the exogenous variables of environmental information than environmental beliefs and to be the most significant factor affecting climate health behaviours. It is more important for nurses to obtain environmental information than environmental beliefs to achieve the goal of climate health behaviours. This in turn, will lead to personal self-efficacy that nurses can mitigate the climate crisis. Their strong self-efficacy affects their climate health behaviours. Nurses should seek and draw on the appropriate environmental information related to climate health change and nurses with environmental self-efficacy become environmental nursing leaders, encouraging other health care workers to participate actively in climate health behaviours and continuously carry out the behaviours within daily life, hospital and community environments. The study addressed the lack of relationship research on factors influencing nurses' climate health behaviours, emphasizing the importance of accessing environmental information to foster self-efficacy. Nurses with heightened self-efficacy can lead healthcare professionals in climate health actions. This research has adhered to relevant EQUATOR and STROBE. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Environmental public opinion: methodological principles of research

Based on the structural analysis of the toolkit of the foreign monitoring studies, the methodological principles of measuring environmental public opinion are analyzed. Modern developments of socio-psychological models for predicting environmental concern and patterns of environmental behavior, the influence of the social context on environmental activism, the influence of methods of measuring environmental concern on conclusions regarding the relationship between material and post-material values are considered in detail. It is noted that traditional indicators of environmental concern are replaced by tools of sociological measurement of environmental awareness, primarily of anthropocentrism and its relationship with ecocentrism. The need to transition from the (post-Soviet) ecological paradigm to the modern European one, the synchronization of advancement to full membership in the EU with the transit of Ukrainian society from the patronage to the liberal model of democracy determine the features of the social context of measuring environmental public opinion in Ukraine. The specified features of the social context require a radical revision of the methodological principles of measuring environmental public opinion with relevant sociological indicators. First, we are talking about the development of indicators of environmental democracy, such as the level of access to environmental information, participation in the adoption of environmentally important decisions, and access to justice on environmental issues. It is argued that the main task of monitoring environmental public opinion is to identify the dynamics of social changes as a derivative of anthropogenic impact on the environment, to adjust environmental policy considering the existing ecological orientations of the population.