Environmental Attitudes Research Articles

Influence of environmental attitudes and time horizons on the valuation of lagoon ecosystem services: A choice experiment approach using principal component analysis.

Coastal lagoon habitats provide multiple ecosystem goods and services that contribute to people's well-being. However, owing to degradation from both anthropogenic and natural causes, these areas require conservation and protection that involve considerable public investment. To help determine this investment, this study estimates the nonmarket economic value of habitat, regulation, and cultural ecosystem services (ESs) using people's environmental attitudes and temporal preferences. Primary data were collected from 517 residents in the Veneto region through an online choice experiment survey. Respondents' environmental attitudes and beliefs were collected using the revised New Ecological Paradigm scale and analyzed using principal component analysis. Mixed logit models were applied to evaluate the marginal willingness to pay under different scenarios. The implicit discount rate linked to the different ESs varied between 2% and 6%, showing ESs should be discounted with distinct rates. Total household indirect and nonuse values for ESs ranged from €93 to €118, according to the model used. The results suggest that people are willing to pay to improve the conservation of lagoon ESs and that the future environmental impacts are valued less than the immediate effects. Additionally, people with environmental attitudes are more likely to contribute to the protection of ESs, and unobservable factors such as motivations, attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs guide people's valuations. These findings can be used to guide policymakers in designing sound conservation policies.

Evaluation of the relationship between nutrition literacy, Mediterranean diet compliance, ecological footprint and sustainable environmental attitudes in adolescents

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the relationship between nutrition literacy, Mediterranean diet compliance, ecological footprint and sustainable environmental attitudes in adolescents.MethodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 673 adolescents aged 14–18 years. The individuals' general characteristics were questioned. Sustainable environmental attitudes, nutritional literacy status and compliance with the Mediterranean diet were assessed with the help of scales. An ecological footprint calculator was used for the calculation of the ecological footprint.ResultsThe mean age of the individuals was 16.5 ± 1.42 years. Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale score and Sustainable Environmental Attitude Scale score were higher in female adolescents than in males (p < 0.05). Ecological Footprint score was higher in male adolescents than in females (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale score, Sustainable Environmental Attitude Scale score and Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) score (p < 0.05). It was determined that sex and Sustainable Environmental Attitude Scale score affected the Ecological Footprint total score (p < 0.05). It was determined that sex, Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale score and Ecological Footprint total score affected the Sustainable Environmental Attitude Scale score (p < 0.05). Also, it was determined that Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale score affected the KIDMED score (p < 0.05).ConclusionsGirls have higher nutritional literacy and sustainable environmental attitude. Nutrition literacy, sustainable environmental attitude and KIDMED total scores showed a significant positive correlation with each other. Nutritional literacy is effective on sustainable environmental attitude and compliance with the Mediterranean diet. Sustainable environmental attitude is effective in reducing the ecological footprint.

Homeownership and Environmental Attitudes

Homeownership is associated with financial stability, middle-class status, and the good life in the United States. On the national level, homeownership has been touted to improve social stability, generate wealth, and foster citizenship and solidarity. If true, expanding homeownership could help to solve the nation’s social, political, and thus environmental challenges. However, despite the popular currency of these ideas, existing research has mixed findings on the political consequences of homeownership. While previous research has linked homeownership to conservative political orientation, there is reason to believe that this may not apply to environmental attitudes. The conservatizing hypothesis is supported primarily by research on homeowners’ attitudes toward macroeconomic or local development policies, not environmental ones. The two mechanisms from the literature — social integration and locally dependent financial investment— can be expected to increase environmental concern among homeowners. Through six semi-structured interviews and a multivariate regression analysis using the General Social Survey 2021 Cross-section Study, this paper finds that homeowners tend to be more concerned about the environment than renters, especially if their neighborhood is highly exposed to environmental risks.

Preschool outdoor education environment quality predicts children’s environmental attitude, awareness and affinity towards nature (biophilia)

ABSTRACT Today’s children grow up far away from nature and this negatively affects their connectedness to nature, their attitudes and behaviors towards nature. As the natural elements in their immediate environment diminish, it can be assumed that the impact of the outdoor spaces of the schools they attend on children’s environmental attitudes and behaviors will increase. In this study, the effects of preschool outdoor education environments on the environmental awareness and attitudes of preschool children and their closeness to nature (biophilia) levels were studied. The research was carried out in four kindergartens and four preschools. A total of 240 preschoolers, 121 girls and 119 boys, constitute the sample of the research. The average monthly age of the children is 63.38 (sd. 1.96). The results showed that the outdoor quality of the kindergartens is higher than the outdoor quality of the preschools. The results indicated that the quality of outdoor educational environments has a significant effect on children’s environmental awareness and attitudes and their affinity towards nature.

From Tradition to Sustainability: The Mediating Effect of Environmental Attitude and Concern for the Environment in the Relationship between Green Consumption Values and Purchase Intention for Handloom Products in India

From Tradition to Sustainability: The Mediating Effect of Environmental Attitude and Concern for the Environment in the Relationship between Green Consumption Values and Purchase Intention for Handloom Products in India

Psychological determinants of environmentally responsible behavior of future architects

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the importance of studying the psychological determinants that determine the environmentally relevant behavior of architecture students. In light of the growing environmental problems, understanding the internal attitudes of future architects becomes an important aspect, since a harmonious combination of architectural concepts and respect for the environment is an urgent need. The purpose of the study was to study attitudes towards nature, value orientations, pro- ecological behavior and establish relationships between these indicators among architecture students. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (n=98). We used the author’s questionnaire aimed at studying the pro- ecological behavior of architecture students, a modification of M. Rokeach’s methodology developed by I. B. Melik-Pashayeva, and the “ESOP” test by V. A. Yasvin, S. D. Deryabo. Descriptive statistics methods were used to process empirical data; Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to identify relationships between variables. Results. It was revealed that the dominant environmental attitude among architecture students is an aesthetic assessment of nature (x̄=4.7). The issue of nature conservation ranks last (x̄=2.0). The hierarchy of values of architecture students is dominated by personal values, such as family, health, as well as the values of self-realization and education. Environmental values are low on the list of priorities. The ethical ecological attitude (perception of nature as an object of protection) is more pronounced among students oriented towards education (0.30, p ≤ 0.001) and religious and spiritual values (0.36, p ≤ 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed that architecture students’ orientation towards education and religious and spiritual values (R² =0.54) is a significant predictor of an ethical attitude towards nature. Conclusion. An important aspect is the creation of psychological prerequisites aimed at increasing awareness, responsibility, and developing the value-motivational sphere of future specialists in accordance with environmental principles.

Exploring the determinants of green electronics purchase intention through the stimulus-organism-response model

PurposeThis study aims to explore the determinants of green electronics purchase intention in Malaysia by extending existing knowledge on green consumer behavior and contributing to the field of sustainable consumption.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adopted, with data collected from 250 Malaysian consumers. The proposed model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the relationships between various determinants and green purchase intention.FindingsThe results demonstrate that perceived consumer effectiveness, green advertising and monetary cost positively affect environmental attitudes, which subsequently influence green purchase intention. The study also identifies that brand image and information quality significantly enhance green brand trust (GBT), leading to stronger intentions to engage in green purchasing. Additionally, it finds that environmental knowledge and environmental concern shape perceived behavioral control, which further impacts green purchasing intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on Malaysian consumers, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts. Future research could expand the scope to include cross-cultural comparisons to validate the model in different settings.Practical implicationsBy providing insights into the key factors driving consumers’ intention to purchase green electronics, the study offers valuable guidance for marketers and manufacturers to develop targeted strategies that promote sustainable consumption and capitalize on the growing demand for green products in Malaysia.Originality/valueThis study is unique in measuring the influence of green attitude, GBT and perceived behavioral control on green purchase intention specifically within the electronics sector, offering a novel contribution to the literature on sustainable consumer behavior.

Gender Differences in Environmental Attitudes: An Analysis Using the NEP Scale

Gender Differences in Environmental Attitudes: An Analysis Using the NEP Scale

The impact of environmental literacy on the health level of rural residents: evidence from the mountainous areas of Sichuan, China.

Environmental pollution and health issues are hot topics of discussion in modern society. However, there is a lack of research from the perspective of subjective factors such as environmental protection to study the impact of environmental literacy on health, especially in rural areas. First, through field research in the mountainous rural areas of Sichuan Province, 396 data points were collected. Based on the KAP model, we constructed an interactive impact mechanism model for the health of rural residents. We used chi-square tests and t-tests to examine the relationship between the background characteristics of rural residents and environmental protection. All environmental literacy variables were classified into strong and weak observational variables, and a multiple linear regression model was employed to explore the impact mechanism of environmental literacy (divided into environmental protection awareness, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of environmental pollution) on the health of rural residents. (1) Young village officials with higher education levels are more likely to have stronger environmental literacy. (2) The health status of rural residents is positively affected by their positive attitude towards environmental protection and negatively affected by their environmental protection behaviors. (3) Age, gender, marital status, and party membership have a significant impact on the health of rural residents. The results of this study can enhance the attention to the living environment and health in rural areas, and provide a scientific basis for improving the environmental literacy and health level of rural residents.

Assessment of Waste Management Practices of Different Manufacturing Companies in Camarines Sur

This study examines waste management practices among manufacturing companies in Camarines Sur, Philippines, focusing on implementation effectiveness and compliance levels across collection, segregation, transportation, and treatment dimensions. Through quantitative analysis of 29 respondents from manufacturing enterprises and 5 local government units, the research evaluates current practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Government implementation shows varying effectiveness, with collection practices demonstrating the highest implementation (3.159), while treatment practices (2.47) require significant enhancement. Manufacturing companies exhibit moderate compliance across all dimensions (overall mean: 2.821), with collection leading (3.02) and treatment showing the lowest implementation (2.579). Financial constraints emerge as the primary challenge for both government (17 respondents) and manufacturing sectors (19 respondents), followed by technical limitations and negative environmental attitudes. The findings highlight the need for enhanced financial support mechanisms, improved technical infrastructure, and stronger environmental awareness programs. The study recommends implementing standardized protocols, investing in advanced technologies, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and fostering public-private partnerships to achieve sustainable waste management practices aligned with circular economy principles.

Knowledge About Environmental Dynamics and Attitude Towards Conservation of Saiwa Wetland, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya

Wetlands are important ecosystems for ecological, social and economic value. Despite their importance, wetlands are under serious threat due to anthropogenic factors, such as intensified agriculture. We conducted a study to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards conservation of Saiwa Swamp in Trans-Nzoia County Kenya. The study used a mixed-methods approach to collect data through household surveys, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Household survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square while key informant and FGDs data were analyzed under thematic areas. The findings reveal that the respondents are aware of the interrelatedness of their activities and the natural resources of the environment. They understand that besides biodiversity conservation, the swamp plays an important role in providing the community with livelihoods, cultural and economic needs. The findings also establish they are aware that their livelihood activities threaten the swamp. Therefore, protecting and managing the Saiwa swamp ecosystem is essential for the well-being of both present and future generations. For sustainability of both the swamp and community livelihoods, the County and National government should work together with all stakeholders to create and establish a culture of stewardship and collective responsibility among local communities. More importantly, the community should be involved in designing conservation interventions as a key to ensuring adoption and implementation.

Exploring Ecological Literacy and Environmental Attitudes in Preservice Teachers for Sustainable Education

Environmental challenges, such as pollution and global warming, present significant threats to all living organisms, with humans being both the primary cause and main victims. Education plays a crucial role in fostering ecological literacy, which is essential for addressing these challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of ecological literacy and environmental attitudes among preservice teachers across different academic disciplines. The study was conducted using two different scales. The results revealed that both gender and grade level had a statistically significant impact on ecological literacy and environmental attitudes. Specifically, female preservice teachers and those in higher grades showed higher levels of ecological literacy and more positive environmental attitudes compared to their male counterparts and those in lower grades. However, no significant differences were found regarding the participants' departments and ages. The findings highlight the importance of educational implementations in enhancing ecological literacy and environmental attitudes among preservice teachers. It is strongly recommended that all preservice teachers, regardless of their academic discipline, receive comprehensive education on environmental issues, enabling them to effectively incorporate these topics into their future teaching and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Beyond Green Hype: Attitude, Trust &amp; Ethics For E-Motors

This research aims to fill the gap in inconsistent findings on the relationship between green attitude and green purchase intention using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) approach by adding green trust and environmental ethics as mediating variables. Data were collected through a survey of 200 potential respondents and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS). Positive and significant results were found in the relationship between green attitude, green trust, environmental ethics, and electric motorcycle purchase intention. In addition, green trust and environmental ethics were able to mediate the relationship between green attitude and electric motorcycle purchase intention. These findings provide insights for electric motorcycle manufacturers and policymakers to improve strategies that promote positive environmental attitudes and trust in green products, ultimately encouraging sustainable consumer behavior. This research provides an original contribution and fills a knowledge gap by combining the concepts of green trust and environmental ethics in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model, which has not been widely studied in Indonesia. In addition, this study introduces a new model that can be the basis for future research in sustainability and green marketing.

Mind the gap: identifying the chasm between environmental awareness, attitudes and action in fast fashion consumption

PurposeAlthough consumers are aware of the importance of sustainable consumption, there is a persistent gap between positive attitudes and actual behavior. This disconnect is particularly pronounced in the fashion industry, where consumers often suppress their positive attitudes towards sustainability in the face of tempting fast fashion offers. This paper analyzes how consumers attempt to reconcile this attitude-behavior gap through using rationalization or neutralization techniques.Design/methodology/approachWe surveyed more than 1,300 fashion consumers in the USA, Europe and Asia. Based on their last fashion purchase, respondents indicated various purchase details as well as their agreement/disagreement to 32 neutralization statements. Additional scales capture pertinent attitude and awareness measures. To scrutinize the role of neutralization statements, we use a series of logistic regression and multinomial regression analyses.FindingsCountry of residence, age and education level are the key determinants when employing neutralization techniques. Logistic regression results also reveal an inverse relationship between age and the propensity of buying sustainable fashion. Ethics, awareness and attitudes all play a role in purchasing sustainable products, but to different degrees in different countries.Originality/valueResearch on how consumers attempt to bridge the gap between attitude-behavior inconsistencies is scarce and primarily qualitative. Our study identifies how fast fashion consumers attempt to reconcile their divergent attitudes and behavior. Uncovering these rationalization or neutralization techniques improves the understanding of the attitude-behavior gap and enables marketers and policymakers to design more effective strategies to promote sustainable consumption.

Mechanism by Which Environmental Education Influences Pro-Environmental Behavior in Wuyishan National Park, China

Environmental education is one of the main functions of China’s national parks, and it also plays a crucial role in the construction of an ecological civilization. Compared with the rest of Asia, the inception of national parks in China occurred relatively late, and fostering tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is a challenging endeavor. According to the theoretical paradigm of stimulus–organism–response (SOR), in this study, we selected place attachment, environmental attitude, and environmental quality to construct a theoretical model of the relationship between the perception of environmental education and pro-environmental behavior. We conducted a sample survey of 728 tourists who had been to Wuyishan National Park and constructed a structural equation model. Our findings indicate the following: (1) pro-environmental behavior is directly and significantly promoted by one’s perception of environmental education, place attachment, and environmental attitude; (2) place attachment and environmental attitude play an intermediary role between one’s perception of environmental education and pro-environmental behavior; and (3) the quality of the external environment positively influences the correlation between one’s perception of environmental education and place attachment. This study provides solutions and suggestions for Wuyishan National Park to improve the effectiveness of environmental education regarding tourists’ pro-environmental behavior.

THE INFLUENCE OF STEAM TEACHING ACTIVITIES INTEGRATING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR AND SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY

This study aims to explore the impact of STEAM teaching activities that incorporate local environmental awareness on university students’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB), and scientific creativity. The teaching activity design of this study was centered on “designing livable housing in Taiwan”, and a total of four projects were designed. This research included university students (N=66) who were divided into a control group (n=33) and an experimental group (n=33). The experimental group added videos on local environmental awareness such as “local disasters and local household interview news”. The students were required to fill out the “Scientific Creativity Questionnaire” and “PEB Scale” before and after the teaching activities. The results of the study indicate that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the post-test for the sub-dimensions of "Green Behavior," "Global Warming Awareness," "Environmental Social Interaction," "Informal Environmental Education," and "Environmental Attitude." This suggests that incorporating local environmental awareness materials into STEAM teaching activities is more effective in enhancing university students' PEB compared to standard STEAM teaching activities. Additionally, both groups showed improvements in overall scientific creativity after participating in the different activities, particularly in the areas of fluency and flexibility. However, ANCOVA analysis revealed no significant difference in scientific creativity between the two groups in the post-test. The results indicated that the integration of local environmental awareness materials was not the primary factor contributing to improvements in scientific creativity. This study recommends that higher education lectures integrate both environmental awareness and scientific content into curriculum design to strengthen students' overall competencies. Keywords: local environmental awareness, quantitative research, pro-environmental behavior (PEB), scientific creativity, STEAM

Climate Change and Health: A Study of the Attitudes of Future Science Teachers.

Living beings as open systems depend on climate and weather to survive. However, changes in the Earth's climatology, which have become more frequent since the industrial period, have affected different territories of the planet, limiting access to ecosystem services and causing imbalances in health and well-being. The first purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on academic production regarding climate change and its impact on health, in the context of education, using international academic production condensed in the Web of Science (WOS) database over the last 10 years as a reference. The second purpose focuses on identifying the environmental attitudes of science teachers in initial training regarding aspects related to climate change. The study results show three categories emerging from the literature review: Climate Change and Health, Nature and Risks, and Environment and Energy. For the analysis of environmental attitudes, a survey was conducted with 51 pre-service teachers, consisting of 59 items distributed in five categories: (a) environment, (b) climate change, (c) health, (d) education, and (e) lifestyle. Although the results reveal a positive attitude towards all analyzed categories, it is important to advance effective mitigation and adaptation strategies from the teacher training processes themselves.

ТЕОРЕТИЧНІ АСПЕКТИ ФОРМУВАННЯ ЕКОЛОГІЧНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ МОЛОДШИХ ШКОЛЯРІВ У ПОЗАШКІЛЬНИХ НАВЧАЛЬНИХ ЗАКЛАДАХ

Introduction. This study addresses the crucial issue of forming ecological competency in primary school children, emphasizing the role of extracurricular educational institutions. Given global ecological challenges, there is a significant need to instill environmental awareness and responsible attitudes in children from an early age. Extracurricular educational institutions, with their flexible programs and unique approaches, play a critical role in this developmental process. Purpose. The article aims to analyze theoretical aspects of forming ecological competency in primary school children within extracurricular settings. The study seeks to identify effective methods and forms of activities that foster ecological knowledge, skills, and values among young learners. Methods. The research employs a theoretical approach, combining literature analysis and a comprehensive examination of existing programs in extracurricular education. Attention is given to methods involving collaboration with public organizations, integrating modern technology, and engaging family and community in environmental education. Result. Findings indicate that extracurricular institutions provide favorable conditions for environmental education through flexible curricula, hands-on activities, and project-based learning. Collaboration with ecological organizations enhances resource availability and enriches learning experiences, while digital tools and interactive platforms expand access to ecological information and stimulate children’s interest in nature. Results suggest that ecological clubs and environmental actions, such as clean-up campaigns and tree-planting events, significantly contribute to fostering ecological responsibility. Originality. This study offers a unique approach to ecological education by emphasizing the integration of family, community, and technological resources in extracurricular settings. It highlights the essential role of social media and digital resources in making environmental education more accessible and appealing to primary school children. Conclusion. In conclusion, the study underscores that extracurricular educational institutions play a pivotal role in forming ecological competency, combining theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. Further research is suggested to explore innovative interactive methods and the impact of family values on sustainable ecological behavior. The results contribute to a broader understanding of how early environmental education in non-formal settings can shape a responsible attitude toward nature and foster sustainable development.

The environmental impact of religious beliefs in the East and West: evidence from China

This study explores the influence of religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviors in China. Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), two structural equation models were constructed to examine the mediating roles of natural empathy and anthropocentrism in the relationship between environmental awareness and willingness to make sacrifices for environmental protection. The results indicated that while environmental awareness positively influenced willingness to sacrifice, natural empathy did not significantly mediate this relationship. Conversely, anthropocentrism negatively mediated the relationship, suggesting that individuals with anthropocentric tendencies were less willing to make personal sacrifices for environmental protection. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis revealed that individuals with traditional Eastern religious beliefs (Buddhism, Taoism, and folklore) exhibited higher environmental awareness and willingness to sacrifice compared to those with no religion or traditional Western (Christianity) religious beliefs. These findings highlight the influence of religious traditions, particularly the emphasis on nature reverence in Eastern religions, on shaping pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. The study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between religious beliefs, environmental values, and sustainable behaviors in the Chinese context.

Research-Based Learning About Nature Conservation Influences Students’ Attitudes and Knowledge

(1) Background: A successful teaching practice and a proper understanding of environmental conservation require developed research abilities and a positive attitude toward nature. Nineteen female students at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences spent ten days in one national park and participated in project activities related to nature conservation. This study aimed to investigate how the stay in nature and the active involvement of students will contribute to their attitudes and knowledge acquisition. (2) Methods: A questionnaire was used to assess the students’ attitudes and knowledge about protected areas before and after the project activities in the national park. The Wilcoxon test was used to determine the statistical significance of differences in attitudes, while the Chi-square test was used to examine the differences in their acquired knowledge. (3) Results: The research showed that students had positive attitudes towards nature protection before and after the project activities. The positive attitudes were confirmed after the project activities were carried out even among those students who did not have them initially. A significant increase in students’ knowledge after the ten-day stay in the national park was noticed. (4) Conclusions: The study results have provided insight into the ability of future teachers to promote sustainable lifestyles and ecological activities. Hands-on nature-based learning significantly foster future teachers’ ecological awareness, their environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.