Pro-environmental Behavior Research Articles

Experiences of undergoing internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for climate change-related distress: a qualitative study

BackgroundInternet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) has previously shown promise in effectively treating climate change-related distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate participants’ experiences of undergoing a novel ICBT program targeting psychological symptoms associated with climate change.MethodsTelephone interviews were conducted with nine participants who had received eight weeks of ICBT for climate change-related distress. A semi-structured interview guide was used to gather information about participants’ experiences of undergoing treatment. Data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe thematic analysis resulted in three overarching themes: (1) Same old feelings, brand new strategies, (2) Bumps in the road, and (3) Personalized climate engagement. Participants experienced that they had developed new coping strategies for handling their emotions, encountered challenges during the treatment period, and adapted their pro-environmental behaviour to their individual needs and circumstances.ConclusionsThe results indicate that participants were able to utilize the treatment material in different ways, resulting in a variety of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural changes. While the treatment was generally described as helpful, participants also raised some concerns regarding the treatment format. These findings can inform further development of ICBT targeting psychological symptoms associated with climate change.

The (in)congruence effects of organizational green compensation and employee green conscientiousness on pro-environmental behavior: evidence from China.

In past decades, the Chinese government has enacted a series of ecological policies to encourage organizations, the pivotal institutional agents implementing national policies, and employees, the crucial micro-actors engaging in ecological construction, to bring about employee pro-environmental behavior (EPEB) which is the foundation to realize nation's ecological strategies. Yet, the effectiveness of a widely adopted organizational-level green management practice "organizational green compensation" (OGC) and a typical individual-level green personality trait "employee green conscientiousness" (EGC) have been explored alone, ignoring the prevalence of various OGC-EGC combinations and failing to clarify the potential influences of OGC-EGC (in)congruence on EPEB. Our research endeavors to address this limitation by resolving the following two problems: What are the (in)congruence effects of OGC and EGC on EPEB in the Chinese context? And what is the underlying mechanism? Study 1 surveyed EGC, OGC, and EPEB among 778 subordinate-supervisor dyads and sought to test two single effects and three sets of comparisons between and within the congruence and incongruence effects using the methodology of polynomial regression and response surface analysis. Study 2 measured EGC, OGC, employee environmental commitment (EEC), and EPEB among 713 subordinate-supervisor dyads and attempted to verify the mediating role of EEC employing the block variable approach. Study 1 found that OGC and EGC independently, positively promote EPEB (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001; ß = 0.24, p < 0.001), the OGC-EGC congruence relates to higher EPEB compared to the OGC-EGC incongruence (p11 = 3.77, 95% CI = [0.71, 23.04]; p10 = - 0.65, 95% CI = [- 25.80, 0.42]; [α3 -α4 +α5] = - 0.24, 95% CI = [- 0.41, - 0.07]), the EPEB level is higher when the OGC-EGC congruence is at a high rather than low level ([α1 +α2] = 0.51, 95% CI = [0.39, 0.62]), and the EPEB level under the high-low combination is lower than that under the low-high combination ([α1-α2] = - 0.20, 95% CI = [- 0.38, - 0.02]). Study 2 further confirmed that EEC plays a mediating role during the OGC-EGC-EPEB relationships (the indirect effect = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.20]). This research substantiates the value of OGC-EGC (in)congruence to fully understand EPEB variations such that, EPEB will be boosted (hampered) when OGC is (in)congruent with EGC; a higher congruence between OGC and EGC leads to higher EPEB, the high-low combination of OGC and EGC results in lower EPEB compared to the low-high combination, and EEC plays a mediating role in the above relationships, offering the Chinese evidence and providing theoretical and practical implications for the optimization of the OGC-EGC combinations to strengthen EPEB.

Green Organizational Climate’s Promotion of Managers’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment: Evidence from the Portuguese Hospitality Context

Society at large has become increasingly concerned about climate change and sustainable development, so tourism and travel service providers have begun to focus more actively on sustainable development goals. Prior research has shown that supervisors’ support fosters employee green behavior and companies’ environmental performance. This study concentrated on Portuguese hospitality contexts to develop a fuller understanding of how organizations’ green efforts can combine with the individual variables highlighted by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) to encourage supervisors’ organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE). Data on 74 hotel managers were collected with an online survey. Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived green organizational climate positively correlates with TPB variables, thereby increasing supervisors’ intention to adopt and encourage OCBE in their workplaces. These findings clarify how organizational and individual factors foster managers’ OCBE. The results have practical implications for organizations seeking to promote their managers’ pro-environmental behavior to boost their environmental sustainability.

Powering Pro-Environment Behavior: The Impact of Unlocking Reward Strategy on Pro-Environmental Behavior

Global environmental challenges threaten both sustainable societal development and daily human life. As these issues intensify, promoting pro-environmental behaviors has become a key research priority. While reward strategies have been proven effective in encouraging such behaviors, most research has focused on the content of rewards, leaving the method of reward delivery underexplored. This study investigates the effects of an unlocking reward strategy on pro-environmental behavior, grounded in the Goal-Setting Theory, while also exploring the psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions that influence these effects. Three studies were conducted to test the hypotheses. Study 1 demonstrated that the unlocking reward strategy (compared to direct rewards) significantly increased pro-environmental behaviors. Study 2 showed that self-efficacy mediates this effect, as the unlocking reward strategy enhances self-efficacy, which in turn promotes pro-environmental behaviors. Study 3 revealed that commitment serves as a crucial moderator, amplifying the positive impact of the unlocking reward strategy. This research not only broadens the scope of reward strategy literature but also elucidates key drivers of pro-environmental behavior, offering practical insights for marketers, policymakers, and organizations aiming to foster sustainable practices.

Planning and management of environmental education to promote educator’s environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour

The increased burden on educators to promote environmental education has recently attracted research interest. Since environmental knowledge has insignificant direct effects on pro-environmental behaviour, it is important to devise effective teaching methods to reduce the burden on educators and promote environmental conservation. In this study, we examined whether the planning and practice of educating others promoted environmental consciousness in the educators. Twenty-four and twenty-two university students participated in the study as part of an experimental and active control group, respectively. The experimental group was asked to plan and manage events meant to educate children about the environment and help them feel comfortable in nature. As a result, compared to the beginning of the study, the experimental group participants exhibited increased environmental consciousness. This improvement could be attributed to the fact that the participants possibly altered their behaviour towards the environment, consistent with the nature conservation practices they presented to the children participating in the abovementioned events. These findings highlight how planning and managing environmental conservation events for others could influence and improve individuals’ environmental consciousness.

Using citizen science to explore barriers and facilitators for healthy and sustainable lifestyles in office environments

The socio ecological model states that individual behaviors at work are shaped by the interactions between individual employees and their work environments. This study used citizen science to gain insights into which elements of the built, social, and organizational environment in an office and surrounding neighborhoods in two Swedish cities were perceived as barriers to or facilitators of healthy and sustainable behaviors at work. Participants in the eight-week Sustainable Office Intervention pilot study (SOFIA) (n = 33) were cluster-randomized into an experimental arm (sustainable lifestyle) or a control intervention arm (healthy lifestyle). They used the Our Voice Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool mobile app to document contextual elements at their workplaces. In total, 114 photos and text-based narratives were recorded, and four themes emerged: built environment, building design, office ergonomics, and food and beverages. Eighteen percent of the photos were linked to pro-environmental behaviors, all exclusively captured by the experimental arm. Twelve barriers and solutions for improving the workplace environment were identified during discussions with participants in both arms. The findings provide insights for designing or renovating office spaces and urban planning to promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles for office workers.

Enhancing students’ pro-environmental behavior through project-based learning

The waste problem that continues to increase throughout the pandemic shows that humans are still carrying out activities that only benefit themselves without caring about nature. This destructive behavior can be changed through an educational process that increases pro-environmental behavior. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the project-based learning model implementation of high school students on environmental change material to improve students’ pro-environmental behavior. The method used is quasi-experimental using the Discovery Learning model in the control class and the Project Based Learning model in the experimental class. This research was conducted at a senior high school in Jakarta. The research sample consisted of 60 students who were selected by random sampling with 30 students in each class. The pro-environment behavior instrument was adapted from Kasier and Wilson consisted of 40 statements. Data analysis used t-test and the results showed a significance value of 0.002. It can be concluded that using project-based learning model can improve the pro-environmental behavior of high school students. The N-Gain test was also carried out, and turns out the effectiveness of the learning model in both classes was low. This can be happened because teachers are still not used to the Project Based Learning model. In the future, it is still necessary to conduct research involving other factors that affect pro-environmental behavior in the application of learning in schools.

The Complex Nature of Ecotourist Experience and its Relationship with Pro-Environmental behavior in a National Park

Background and objective: Despite the increase in the number of studies related to visitor experiences and behavior in ecotourism and outdoor recreation settings, little empirical research has concentrated on how to identify the nature of ecotourists’ experiences within national park settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the complex nature of ecotourists’ experiences through personal, social, and environmental conditions, and to examine its relationship with pro-environmental behavior in natural environmental settings.Methods: For visitors, a questionnaire survey was administered to 396 adults who visited a national park in South Korea. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient scores were assessed to examine the reliability of ecotourist experiences. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was utilized to explore the construct validity of the factor structure in the measurement variables. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were analyzed to examine the relationships between independent variables. Path analysis was used to examine the contributions of ecotourist experiences to satisfaction and pro-environmental behavior.Results: One of the most important findings is that ecotourist experiences scale shows relatively acceptable measurement properties and reasonable levels of fit. The results in the path model represented that ecotourist satisfaction had large effects on pro-environmental behavior. Based on the fit statistics in the proposed model, the relationship between the measurement variables provides a relatively good fit to the data and verify the convergent validity of the measures. Personal factor of ecotourist experience had significant effects on satisfaction. Additionally, satisfaction had a significant effect on pro-environmental behavior for ecotourists.Conclusion: The findings of the study provide empirical evidence that three dimensions of ecotourist experiences were significantly related to pro-environmental behavior through visitor satisfaction in natural environmental settings. Further study may need to explore the nature of visitor experience and its relationship with behavior of man-made structures in different settings.

Environmental Literacy and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Pre-Service Science Educators: The Mediating Effect of Their Climate Change Awareness

The study investigated at how climate change awareness mediates the relationship between environmental literacy and pro-environmental behavior among pre-service science educators in the Davao region, involving a total of 305 respondents. A descriptive-correlational approach was used in a non-experimental quantitative research design. The findings revealed that pre-service science educators exhibit high levels of pro-environmental behavior, environmental literacy, and climate change awareness. This finding highlights the important role of future science educators in disseminating knowledge about climate change, as persons with higher levels of environmental literacy are more likely to engage in pro-environmental actions. Climate change awareness functioned as a partial mediator, indicating that although environmental literacy is essential, climate knowledge enhances educators' involvement in sustainable practices. The findings underscore the essential function of prospective science educators in climate advocacy, indicating that educational programs may improve environmental literacy curricula and incorporate discussions on climate change, thus preparing future teachers to motivate responsible environmental actions in their communities.

Work life balance and pro environmenal behavior on sustainability

This study investigates the impact of work-life balance (WLB) and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) on sustainability outcomes in Indonesia's manufacturing sector. As sustainability becomes increasingly important within industrial settings, understanding the role of human-centric factors like WLB and PEB can offer unique insights into achieving sustainable practices. Data were collected from 278 employees across the top four manufacturing companies in Indonesia. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via LISREL, the study demonstrates that both WLB and PEB significantly contribute to perceived sustainability outcomes. The results indicate that employees who experience a healthy work-life balance are more likely to engage in behaviors that support environmental initiatives, ultimately enhancing organizational sustainability. These findings suggest that promoting a supportive work environment and encouraging eco-friendly behaviors can facilitate sustainable business practices. The study’s implications highlight the importance of integrating employee well-being into sustainability strategies within manufacturing industries, providing actionable recommendations for managers and policymakers aiming to foster sustainable development.

Does Regular Nature Exposure Benefit Environmentally Engaged Students? Effects of Botanical Garden Walks on Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes

Background and objective: The psychological and behavioral benefits of nature have been widely documented; yet less is known about whether these benefits are salient among environmentally engaged groups. This study examined the effects of walking regularly in a natural environment on the biospheric values, nature relatedness, psychological well-being, and pro-environmental behavioral intentions of university students in an environmental major.Methods: A total of 39 students were randomly assigned into treatment (n = 21) and control (n = 18) groups for a 15-week trial. The treatment group walked for 15 minutes in a campus botanical garden twice a week while the control group stayed indoor.Results: Pre- and post-test survey results indicated no significant effects of the treatment on the outcome variables, suggesting that those who engage with nature for disciplinary purposes did not benefit from prescribed exposure to nature.Conclusion: Programs that provide nature exposure to enhance mental well-being and pro-environmental behavior should take into account participants’ background and baseline interactions with nature.

Environmental Education and Pro-Environmental Behavior Among Um Peñaplata College Students

This study aimed to determine the level of environmental education, the level of pro-environmental behavior, and to examine the relationship between environmental education and pro-environmental behavior among UM Peñaplata College students. The research approach was quantitative, a descriptive-correlational design was employed. Thus, the researchers used mean, Pearson Product Moment Correlational, and regression for data analysis and interpretation. The results revealed that environmental education and students’ pro-environmental behavior is high. Further, there is a moderate correlation between environmental education and pro-environmental behavior among students. It underscored that students who applied an environmental value tends to be aware of how their behaviour affects the environment. The more the school integrates environmental education, the more it fosters pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, incorporating environmental education into schools enhances students’ sustainable actions towards the environment.

The influence of trekkers’ personal and subjective norms on their pro-environmental behaviors

The call for pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) is increasing amid the growing negative impact of human activity on the environment. Most studies in this domain have focused on the environmental impact of specific human behaviors, overlooking how these behaviors evolve over time. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how trekkers maintain and practice environmentally friendly behaviors in daily life. To achieve this goal, this study examined the influence of subjective norms and personal norms on daily PEBs and adopted environmental awareness as a mediating variable. This study recruited trekkers in Taiwan (n = 528) as the research subjects and employed structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The results showed that subjective norms, personal norms, and their interaction effects all indirectly influenced PEBs through environmental awareness. In particular, the influence of subjective norms was much greater than that of personal norms, indicating that people's behaviors are more significantly impacted by others' expectations than by their own personal beliefs. These findings not only highlighted the importance of subjective and personal norms in shaping PEBs but also revealed that the PEBs cultivated during trekking activities may extend to behaviors in daily life. Management implicationsThis study offers practical implications for management teams and practitioners at trekking destinations: they should promote daily PEBs and effective communication with trekkers. Since 2020, the number of trekkers in Taiwan has surged by 57%, resulting in significant environmental degradation. This increase can largely be attributed to insufficient staffing, as the overwhelming number of trekkers places additional burdens and stress on existing personnel. Therefore, it is essential to implement measures to regulate the number of trekkers in sensitive areas. Furthermore, the government should enhance recruitment efforts for mountain rangers to ensure adequate oversight and support.Trekking activities often take place in remote and sparsely populated mountainous areas, where the natural environment is relatively undisturbed. As a result, environmental management faces greater challenges in these regions. In this context, local governments should consider adopting nature-oriented recreation and tourism activation strategies through direct and indirect experiences. These could include formal and informal educational programs and services, mass media, internet resources, and interpretive programs. Such initiatives aim to enhance human understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of nature, thereby shaping personal norms and subjective norms while fostering environmental awareness.In terms of durable outcomes, it is recommended that destination management agencies and environmental protection organizations invite trekkers to participate in destination environmental management and provide a platform for expression, organize public welfare activities (such as mountain garbage cleanup, and tree planting), and provide spiritual incentives and economic rewards, durable outcomes for travelers and continued PEB (Liu et al., 2024).

Fishing tourism and the environment: Examining fishing tourists’ resource consumption reduction and recycling behaviors at fishing destinations

With increasing climate change, it is becoming imperative to implement pro-environmental practices. The present study aimed to delineate the determinants of fishing tourists’ eco-friendly behaviors by adopting a fuzzy-set approach. The results revealed the complex interplay of VBN (value–belief–norm) factors, perceived barriers, and motives in shaping fishing tourists’ environmental behaviors. While no single factor emerged as a necessary condition for pro-environmental behaviors, the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and tourism professionals seeking to promote sustainability in fishing tourism sites. Moreover, the results offer insights that will help in the understanding of fishing tourists’ underlying psychological structure and in devising tactics to promote pro-environmental measures for recreational wildlife tourists.

Adolescents’ impairment due to climate anxiety is associated with self-efficacy and behavioral engagement: a cross-sectional analysis in Quebec (Canada)

BackgroundThe current understanding of climate anxiety among adolescents is sparse. This study identifies the characteristics of adolescents living in Quebec (Canada) who experience impairments induced by climate anxiety, who have feelings of self-efficacy and who adopt pro-environment behaviors. It also characterizes the association between climate anxiety, feelings of self-efficacy, and environmental actions.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional design to analyze data from the COMPASS study on adolescent health. Participants (n = 45 362) from 113 schools in Quebec (Canada) answered questions about climate anxiety, self-efficacy, behavioral engagement, and several indicators of well-being. Data were analyzed using ordered logistic regressions adjusted for potential confounders (age, gender, school type, material deprivation, etc.).Results9% of adolescents reported that thinking about climate change made it difficult to sleep at least sometimes. 6% of adolescents reported that thinking about climate change interfered with their ability to get work or assignments done at least sometimes. Only 34% believed they could do something to address the problem, and 43% tried to reduce their behaviors that contribute to climate change at least sometimes. Adolescents who were boys or who were less anxious experienced less impairment and were less involved in the fight against climate change. Adolescents from less affluent families experienced more difficulty sleeping and interference with work but were not more engaged. Those with stronger school connectedness experienced less impairment and were more often involved in the fight against climate change. Adolescents who felt they could do something about climate change were more likely to try to reduce behaviors that contribute to climate change.ConclusionThe findings are useful to identify and support vulnerable groups that are more likely to experience impairment due to climate anxiety. The feeling of climate self-efficacy was not well developed among some groups of adolescents. Improving adolescents’ beliefs in their capacity to help address climate change may be a key strategy to promote pro-environmental actions. As the threat of climate change increases, it will be important to follow the evolution of climate anxiety and engagement among adolescents.

Influence of mindfulness on environmental satisfaction among young adults: mediating role of environmental identity

This study aims to analyze the relationship between mindfulness, environmental satisfaction, and environmental identity of adults. A sample of 367 adults was recruited using convenient sampling, and data were collected through online surveys. A quantitative analysis was carried out with SMART PLS-SEM to explore the structural relationships between these variables. The results demonstrated that mindfulness is significantly correlated with both environmental satisfaction and environmental identity, with environmental identity serving as a significant mediator between mindfulness and environmental satisfaction. These findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of mindfulness tend to have greater environmental satisfaction and a more robust environmental identity. The study highlights the importance of mindfulness in promoting environmental responsibility and suggests that mindfulness can enhance adults' affinity with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. This research contributes to the current understanding of the psychological determinants of environmental attitudes and behaviors, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster environmental actions.

An intervention on climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviours in Italian young people

Abstract Background The climate crisis greatly affects mental health, often leading to climate change anxiety. In Italy, there is a lack of research and school programs to help manage climate anxiety and other climate-related psychological consequences. The aim of the CAMBIO CLIMA project is to evaluate the levels of eco-anxiety and pro-environmental behaviours (PEBS) in a sample of Italian middle and high school students, before and after a tailored intervention on the climate crisis. Methods The intervention involves one hundred middle and high school classes from three Italian regions. The students will complete a set of surveys, including psychometric scales and questions on socio-demographic factors and climate change awareness. The students will then participate in a two-hour online workshop. A video will be shown at the beginning to raise awareness about climate change. The instructor will ask the students which solutions could be found to solve specific problems caused by climate change. The instructor will then propose and explain a list of PEBS that students can implement to fight against climate change. Finally, students will be invited to put into action these behaviours. A week after the intervention, students will be asked to take part in a post-intervention survey, completing the same set of questionnaires they completed at enrolment. Results Currently, the research team is in the preparatory stage, establishing contacts with schools and organizing materials for the online workshop. The intervention is scheduled for the upcoming school year. Conclusions The intervention, focused on enhancing the sense of self-efficacy, is expected to increase the resilience of adolescents, making them less vulnerable to the impact, both direct and indirect, of climate change on mental health. The project is funded by PRIN: PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE - Bando 2022 (Prot. 2022N22J5F). Key messages • Climate change has a disproportionate impact on young people. • It is essential to plan adequate school programs that stimulate the sense of awareness and encourage PEBS simultaneously.

Innovating Community Engagement: The Role of Micro-Influencers in Promoting Sustainable Behaviors among Malaysian Millennials

Social Influencers as environmental leaders utilize social media platforms to enhance community engagement in advocating sustainability. This study explores the underexplored role of micro-influencers in fostering pro-environmental behaviors among Malaysian youths and innovating community engagement by employing a qualitative approach in conducting semi-structured interviews with five micro-influencers. Our findings indicate the critical role of micro-influencers in raising awareness and actively engaging communities in adopting sustainable practices. The findings reveal three key themes: leadership qualities, pro-environmental behaviors, and persuasive narrative strategies. Through the innovative use of social media, these influencers overcome linguistic and geographical barriers, fostering enhanced community engagement in the pursuit of environmental stewardship. However, the sample size of five micro-influencers may limit the generalizability of the findings, as it may only partially represent the diverse range of micro-influencers. The result of this research can be used as recommendations for organizations, non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies that can leverage the insights from this study to strategically engage micro-influencers in environmental campaigns, recognizing their unique ability to reach and resonate with specific communities, particularly Malaysian youths. This study offers a novel perspective on digital environmental leadership by uncovering the unique role of micro-influencers in fostering community engagement and cultivating a culture of sustainability. It provides original insights into how these emerging leaders not only inspire but also empower communities to take meaningful action toward environmental preservation. The study highlights the underexamined potential of micro-influencers in exceeding traditional barriers to community engagement, offering valuable implications for future strategies in environmental advocacy.

Eco-anxiety: an additional burden for university students?

Abstract Background Eco-anxiety encompasses climate change anxiety, including global warming, as well as anxiety about a multiplicity of environmental disasters, which not be directly caused by climate change The objective is to assess eco-anxiety in healthcare and non healthcare students and investigate a relationship with health behaviour, mental health, and environmental opinion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among voluntary university students in the Rouen University in Normandy, France. Volunteer healthcare students aged 18 years and older were included. Eco-anxiety was assessed with the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13). Socio-demographics, health behavior, mental health and healthcare data were also collected. Results A total of 1,887 students were included with 74.3% of women and a mean age of 21.1 years (SD = 6.8). The HEAS-13 mean was 13.2 (SD = 2.6): affective symptoms 4.1 (SD = 2.7), eco-rumination 3.7 (SD = 2.4), behaviour 1.0 (SD = 1.5), and anxiety about one’s personal impact on the planet 4.4 (SD = 2.5). Respectively, 59.6% and 31.4% of students are moderately and very much involved in pro environmental-behaviour. 84.6% of students will consider environmental issues in their career choices. Eco-anxiety was associated with being a woman, being in curricula other than health, accommodation with roommates or in couple, use of cannabis, eating disorders, insomnia, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, depression, quality of life, and visiting a general practitioner for stress. Conclusions An high eco-anxiety was associated with impaired mental health and could be an additional burden for university students. Intervention options for those that do experience eco-anxiety and suffering can be as prescribing environmental action, mental health skills, and climate change resolution without imposing the burden of change solely on young people Key messages • A high eco-anxiety is prevalent among university. • The eco-anxiety impaired mental health that could be an additional burden for university students.

Energy Citizenship: Revealing the Intrinsic Motivational Factors Suggested by Self-Determination Theory

This study investigated the motivational factors driving energy citizenship through the lens of self-determination theory. Utilizing data from a survey of 749 respondents, we examined the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in predicting energy citizenship. Our findings reveal that intrinsic motivations, such as personal responsibility for climate change, community involvement, and the desire to reduce one’s carbon footprint, significantly predict engagement in energy citizenship. Conversely, extrinsic motivations, including financial incentives and external pressures, were not significant predictors. The study underscores the importance of intrinsic motivations in fostering sustained pro-environmental behaviours, particularly as the complexity of these behaviours increases. These insights suggest that policymakers should focus on enhancing intrinsic motivations through education, community engagement, and autonomy-supportive initiatives to promote active participation in sustainable energy practices.