Predictors Of Pro-environmental Behavior Research Articles

Personal Values, Green Self-identity and Electric Car Adoption

Personal values, green self-identity and ethical motives have been widely studied as important, but mostly separate, predictors of pro-environmental behaviors. Scholars call for more research on the combined effects of these variables, to explain pro-environmental behavior. In this regard, this study presents a model of electric car adoption intention, in which personal values determine green self-identity, which in turn influences consumer intention to adopt electric cars directly and also indirectly via ethical motives of ecological care and moral obligation. Second, this work explores how personal values moderate the relationships between green self-identity, ecological care, moral obligation and electric car adoption intention.Data were collected through a survey in a sample of 2005 car drivers residing in Belgium, Denmark and Italy. Results confirm that four value domains (i.e., self-transcendence, self-enhancement, openness-to-change and conservation) influence green self-identity, which in turn determines consumer intention to adopt electric cars both directly and indirectly via ecological care and moral obligation motivations. Furthermore, consumers who find self-transcendent and openness-to-change values important tend to express their green self-identity directly into intentions and through moral obligation evaluations. Conversely, individuals who find self-enhancement values important express their green self-identity directly into intentions, while they take the ecological and moral considerations to behave green less into account. Finally, consumers who find conservation values important translate their green self-identity less into intentions to adopt electric cars, and tend to consider less the ecological and moral aspects of consumption choices.

From Equality‐Based Respect to Environmental Activism: Antecedents and Consequences of Global Identity

Global identity reflects social identification with the world and the largest, most inclusive human ingroup and is generally associated with behavior that serves the world and all humans, such as transnational cooperation or proenvironmental engagement. While the outcomes of being globally identified are well‐established, the antecedents of global identity are only partially explored. Drawing from research suggesting that respect fosters identification in small groups, we argue that the general experience of being respected as an equal by others increases global identification. In an online study with 469 Germans (students and nonstudents), we tested the relation between equality‐based respect and global identification in a structural equation model, with proenvironmental intentions and donation behavior as outcome variables. As expected, equality‐based respect, but not other forms of social recognition (need‐based care and achievement‐based social esteem), predicted global identity while higher global identity, in turn, predicted proenvironmental activism. These effects were substantial beyond known predictors of proenvironmental behavior and thus suggest that equality‐based respect represents an important facet of responses to global challenges.

Predictors of Pro-Environmental Behavior in Rural American Communities

Place and community attachment, community satisfaction, and environmental attitudes have all been independently linked to environmental behaviors. However, few efforts have attempted to determine the relationship between these factors, and together, how they relate to pro-environmental behaviors. Moreover, few studies have analyzed these concepts and relationships in the context of rural and low amenity settings. This study integrates these factors in a conceptual framework and examines them in the context of rural, low amenity communities. Based on the analysis of data from a survey of residents in six small, rural communities in Kansas and Iowa ( N = 1,088), we find that environmental attitudes and place attachment are the strongest predictors of self-reported pro-environmental behaviors, while community satisfaction—including satisfaction with services and satisfaction with community leadership—is not a significant predictor. Recommendations for future research following the theoretical approach used in the study are presented.

Encouraging ecological behaviors among students by using the ecological footprint as an educational tool: a quasi-experimental design in a public high school in the city of Haifa

The aim of the current study is to explore whether the ecological footprint is an appropriate tool for encouraging ecological behaviors in students. In the quasi-experimental research that we conducted, four classes from one of the public high schools in the city of Haifa (N = 130) participated in an environmental education (EE) program (intervention program) based on the theoretical and practical aspects of the ecological footprint and the action competence approach in EE. Two classes (N = 70) constituted a control group. Ecological worldview (EW), perceived behavioral control (PBC), behavioral intentions (BI), personal norms (PN), pro-environmental behavior (PEB), and self-reported behaviors were measured by means of questionnaires completed by the students in their classes before and after the intervention program. The results show statistically significant differences between the experimental and the control groups in the variables PBC, PN, and BI. However, no statistically significant differences were revealed in EW and PEB. The results indicate that incorporating the ecological footprint as an educational tool in high school might yield some predictors of PEB.

Explaining pro-environmental behaviors with environmentally relevant variables: A survey in Korea

The increasing concerns of Korean consumers towards environmental issues appear to have generated little discernable impact on individual pro-environmental behaviors. Therefore, it is important to look into the comprehensive process in which pro-environmental behavior is generated. The aim of this study is to seek predictors of pro-environmental behavior of Korean consumers and to test interrelationships among environmentally relevant variables: environmental concern, environmental knowledge, perceived consumer effectiveness, and environmental affect, and their effect on preference for products with pro-environmental attributes. We wish to provide an account of the way Korean pro-environmental behavior is shaped, with a specific focus on three types of behavior: green purchase behavior, green product use behavior, and green product disposal behavior. Key words: Green consumer, pro-environmental behavior, environmental knowledge, environmental concern, environmental affect.

Green Consumerism Individual’s Ethics and Politics as Predictors of Pro-environmental behaviour

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of individual’s ethical and political values as shaping the pro-environmental attitudes toward green consumer behaviour. Ethical and political actions are guiding principles of individual’s life that govern the decision making. In this context, research indicates that individual consumer’s ethical and political values have been positively correlated to pro-environmental attitudes toward green consumer behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – A survey approach was adopted comprising individual’s ethical values and political actions and pro-environmental behaviour. A random sample of 250 consumers who made purchasing decisions was taken for data collection. Self-Administrative Questionnaire was used to collect the data and an analyzed using both descriptive measures, and correlations between variables. Linear regression analysis was employed to test hypotheses. The survey instrument was measured to be both reliable and valid. Findings The results of the data analysis revealed that both individual’s political values and ethical values found to be good predictors of pro-environmental attitude on green behavior in Sri Lanka. However, pro-environmental attitudes do not directly influence on green consumer behaviour intention. Especially, Sri Lankan consumers who have less awareness or interest in environmental friendly actions have shown weak relationships. Research limitations/implications – The accuracy of the analysis is dependent upon the Self –reported behavior of the respondents.

Effects of attitudinal and sociodemographic factors on pro-environmental behaviour in urban China

SUMMARYChina currently faces severe environmental challenges, and information regarding the predictors of pro-environmental behaviour in China is needed to manage them. This study addresses this need by modelling the sociodemographic and attitudinal factors predicting pro-environmental behaviour in urban China. Pro-environmental behaviour was modelled as a function of environmental attitude (measured using the new environmental paradigm) and various sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents who were employed, holding leadership positions, living in larger cities and single were more likely to participate in pro-environmental behaviour. These results accord with previous studies suggesting being female, younger, highly educated and having environmentally oriented attitudes increased the odds of participating in pro-environmental behaviour. The rapid urbanization and economic development in China may significantly impact pro-environmental behaviour in the future.

Psychometric properties of the Environmental Identity Scale (EID)

The Environmental Identity (EID) Scale was proposed by Clayton to study the relationship between identity and nature. Although it is cited in several publications, it has rarely been subjected to psychometric analysis. The main aim of this study is to analyze the fulfilment of construct and convergent validity criteria for this scale. For this purpose, 282 university students were asked to complete a questionnaire, along with related measures: Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS), the Inclusion of Nature in Self (INS) scale, Ego-biocentrism and self-reporting of pro-environmental behaviours. Exploratory factor analysis of EID shows that there are four underlying dimensions: environmental identity; enjoying nature; appreciation of nature; and environmentalism. All the correlations between EID and the criteria variables were significant, with environmentalism and environmental identity as the best predictors of pro-environmental behaviour.

Exploring the influence of outdoor recreation participation on pro-environmental behaviour in a demographically diverse population

This study used structural equation modelling to examine the effects of socio-demographic variables and outdoor recreation participation on pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) among an ethnically diverse population of adult state-park visitors near Atlanta, Georgia, USA (N = 319). Data collected through intercept surveys at three state parks were used to examine interactions among potential predictors of PEB, including socio-demographics (ethnicity, gender, education, and income), outdoor recreation participation (during childhood and adulthood), and environmental value orientations (biocentric and anthropocentric). The best fitting model accounted for 40% of the variance in self-reported PEB and indicated the strongest positive relationship between adult outdoor recreation participation and PEB (β = 0.54, t = 5.70). Biocentric and anthropocentric value orientation scores were also significant antecedents of PEB (β = 0.17, t = 1.99, and β = 0.19, t = 2.56, respectively), and both were influenced by socio-demographic variables. Overall, results suggest that a diverse public's environmental ethos and propensity to engage in PEBs could be influenced by outdoor recreation opportunities.