Sustainable Behavior Research Articles

Sustainability Awareness and Behavior of Management Accounting Students: Basis for Course Activity Development

Sustainability refers to both the planet’s health and humanity’s future well-being, encompassing actions humans take to prevent the depletion of natural resources. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a vital role in course curricula by helping students develop critical thinking, decision-making, socio-emotional, and behavioral skills. This study examined the awareness and behavior of BS Management Accounting (BSMA) students regarding the three pillars of sustainability as well as the relationship between sustainability education and their awareness and behavior. Using the Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) and Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB) frameworks, this quantitative descriptive research collected data from 349 out of 399 BSMA students (87.47% participation rate) enrolled during SY 2023–2024 at the University of Saint Louis, Northern Philippines. The results revealed that students were generally aware of sustainability and exhibited positive attitudes toward sustainable practices. Enrollment in the SASA 1013 course significantly increased sustainability awareness, but neither year level nor course enrollment had a significant impact on actual sustainability behavior. This study offers insights into the relationship between students’ sustainability awareness and their behavior across the three sustainability pillars. The novelty of this research lies in its focus on BSMA students and the specific role of the SASA 1013 course in fostering sustainability awareness. The study concludes with recommendations for curriculum development and policy initiatives to further promote students’ long-term sustainability awareness and behavior.

Cetuximab scFv-Modified 5-FU Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles: "A Novel Therapeutic Platform."

Colorectal cancer [CRC] is among the most fatal types of cancer. An active targeting delivery system that specifically interacts with CRC cells could improve the therapy's outcomes. Herein, Cetuximab single-chain fragment variable antibody [scFv] fragments were conjugated to the surface of 5-FU encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles [CS NPs] to develop an effective therapeutic platform [scFv-CS/5-FU NPs]. CS/5-FU NPs were synthesized using a special fluidic system. Encapsulation efficiency [EE], loading capacity [LC], and the drug release profile of the particles were determined. scFv fragments were produced recombinantly and tailored on the surface of CS/5-FU NPs. The physicochemical features of scFv-CS/5-FU NPs were also characterized. MTT and flow cytometry assay investigated the toxicity effect of scFv-CS/5-FU NPs on the HCT116 cell line. CS/5-FU NPs had a homogenous spherical shape. They possessed sustainable drugrelease behavior. The produced scFv-CS/5-FU NPs were also spherical. scFv-CS/5-FU NPs significantly decreased the viability of cancerous cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis in 97.97% of targeted cells. scFv-CS/5-FU NPs showed remarkable anti-CRC activity. This novel targeting delivery system reduced the effective dose of 5-FU which is of vital importance to decrease the devastating side effects of chemotherapy.

Preventing ischemic heart disease in women: a systematic review of global directives and policies

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women worldwide. Yet cardiovascular disease in women remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially among vulnerable populations such as older women, low-income populations, and ethnic minorities. Resultantly, reduction in cardiovascular mortality among women has stagnated. To examine, consolidate current research findings and policies to identify gaps in women’s heart health practice, this review screened 21476 records and synthesized results from 124 English language publications worldwide. Using a life course approach, we assessed the connection between clinical recommendations and policy, and documented global recommendations and policies addressing prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. Key recommendations include fostering environments that encourage sustainable health behaviors for young women, advocating for national surveillance systems and guidelines for monitoring and increasing the understanding of cardiovascular health in high-risk pregnancy/postpartum groups, developing community prevention programs for midlife/menopause, and implementing direct population health management initiatives for elderly women, with an emphasis on higher risk groups. Inequalities still exist among women with varying socioeconomic status and race between countries, and even within countries.

Are all luxury guests the same? A benefit segmentation of 5-star hotel customers

PurposeThis research aims at identifying segments of luxury guests based on the benefits they seek when staying at 5-star hotels. The study also wants to investigate whether ethics and sustainability have a role in differentiating the segments.Design/methodology/approachAn online panel survey allowed the collection of 508 responses with participants from Switzerland that spent at least one night in a 5-star hotel between 2022 and 2023. The survey asked about perceived benefits, sustainable tourist behavior, preferred hotel green practices, trip-related factors and socio-demographics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to group participants on the benefits identified via exploratory factor analysis. The other variables were used for segment profiling.FindingsResults show the existence of three customer segments for 5-star hotels: the ethical enthusiast, the unconcerned aesthete and the practical connoisseur. These differ in the importance they assign to ethical, social and symbolic benefits, as well as functional service benefits. The relevance of sustainability in the luxury hotel experience is stronger for the ethical enthusiast.Practical implicationsLuxury hotel managers should highlight sustainable practices on social media to attract ethical enthusiasts. In addition, marketing content customization should be used to appeal to the benefits and profile of each identified segment.Originality/valueThis is the first study that provides a benefit segmentation of luxury hotel guests, and it is also the first research that considers the role of sustainability and ethics in differentiating these customers.

Towards Understanding the Motivators of Sustainable Consumer Behavior—Validation of the Food Eco-Guilt Scale

Background/Objectives: The growing concern about the environmental impacts of consumption has led to the emergence of so-called “eco-guilt”—a psychological construct reflecting the guilt felt by individuals about the environmental consequences of their choices, which plays a prominent role among the factors influencing pro-environmental behavior. Although eco-guilt has already emerged in other service sectors, such as tourism, and general scales exist to measure it, no such scale exists in the context of food consumption. The aim of this research is to develop and validate a scale to measure eco-guilt related to food consumption. Methods: To create the scale in an objective way, we used the Sustainable Development Goals as a framework. Data were collected from university students; a questionnaire was completed online by 367 respondents. The responses were analyzed from several different perspectives, using multiple methods following the principle of triangulation. For the data analysis, the Psych and Mokken packages of R software (version 4.4.0) were used. Results: The constructed scale was based on 13 items. An overview of the reliability of the scale was provided using various indicators (e.g., Cronbach’s α = 0.86, ωh = 0.63, ωH asymptotic = 0.71, and ωt = 0.89). Based on the analyses, we proposed a reduced form with nine items for the measurement of food-related eco-guilt. Conclusions: The results of this research provide a scale to help understand what motivates consumers to make more sustainable consumption choices. Moreover, the scale is relevant to future research focused on understanding how guilt influences future food choices.

The role of social entrepreneurship education and corporate social responsibility in shaping sustainable behaviour in the education sector of Lahore, Pakistan

Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE) has the potential to benefit society by reducing poverty and advancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. This study examines how SEE enhances students’ perception of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and leads to more sustainable behaviour among students. Additionally, this study explores how the Institutional Environment strengthens the connection between SEE and perceived CSR, both crucial for cultivating sustainable behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour serves as the foundation for this study. A questionnaire-based survey was completed by purposively selected 271 undergraduates from private universities in Lahore, Pakistan. The findings indicate that social entrepreneurial education positively impacts the students’ perception of CSR and sustainable behaviour. Additionally, the study found that CSR plays a mediating role, which is statistically significant. The findings also suggest that the institutional environment acts as a moderator. This study contributes significantly to the existing knowledge and is a valuable guide for educational institutions to develop policies for education programs based on social entrepreneurship courses and training.

New Zealand ethical consumption driven by universalism and personal achievement; can it also be fun?

ABSTRACT Overconsumption and environmental pollution in New Zealand are leading to the depletion of its resources, threatening its ecosystem. This paper explores New Zealanders’ ethical and sustainable consumption behaviour, and the motivations and values that drive them. Seventy in-depth interviews with a variety of ethical consumers were conducted and analysed using laddering technique to uncover drivers behind ethical consumption habits. Results reflect the complexity and variety inherent in ethical consumption, and its motivations and drivers. Most ethical behaviours are environmentally focused, aimed at pollution reduction and environmental conservation. Ethical behaviours with a social focus are directed at the local or the international community. Social justice, equality and unity of nature (all sub-values of universalism) are revealed as drivers of ethical behaviours, and are complemented by personal achievement (feeling capable) and feelings of enjoyment – consuming ethically can also be ‘fun’. The complexity of the findings highlights the need for customised messaging from policymakers and businesses to increase ethical consumption behaviours in New Zealand.

Barriers to a sustainable living in Italy: results of a national survey

Abstract Background Sustainable living plays a crucial role in creating a fairer society, but various constraints prevent consumers from adopting sustainable behaviours. This study investigated the reasons for non-adoption of sustainable products or behaviours among the Italian population. Methods From January to June 2023, we surveyed the Italian population using a 40-question online survey that asked about knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward sustainable behaviours and products. Participants were asked about the reasons why they did not engage in a certain behaviour or did not use a selected product. Descriptive statistics, t-test and chi-square tests were performed to assess association with participant characteristics. Results The 420 participants had a median age of 39 years (interquartile range: 32-56), 66% were female. The largest discrepancy between knowledge of sustainability impacts and implementation was in the personal care (92% knowledge, 31% implementation) and transportation (85% knowledge, 48% implementation) domains. In general, the main reasons for not using the surveyed products were practical complications in everyday life (25%), the difficulty of finding or producing them (23%) and their cost (13%). Specifically, practical complications (42%) were the main reason for not adopting sustainable behaviours in the transport domain. In the personal care domain, low confidence in product quality or ignorance of their existence accounted for only 26% of reasons for non-use, while supply problems, practical complications in everyday life and existence unawareness accounted for 61%. Conclusions Targeted measures are needed to address the reasons for non-use or adoption of sustainable products and behaviours. In this way, these actions will help to promote healthy living, protect our planet, support socio-economic development, and ensure global prosperity. Key messages • A greater sustainability- implementation awareness gap was found in personal care and transportation domains. • The main reasons for not implementing sustainable living were practical complications in daily life, supply difficulties and product cost.

Health coaching: the node of health literacy & health promotion

Abstract Introduction To achieve sustainable health behaviors and outcomes to move from a precarious health situation to good health, people need to be supported in health literacy in behavior change that ensure interventions’ success. As a non-clinical approach, health coaching aims to increase a person’s levels of self-efficacy, confidence and resilience, by promoting the sense of coherence. This communication aims to identify the benefits that health coaching as a salutogenic approach can trigger. Methods The work is structured in a narrative review of literature and the lived experience of the authors in health coaching. Results The published research on health coaching and the systematic professional experience of the authors highlight: (1) the anchoring of health coaching in the salutogenic model and in the person-centered approach focused on individual characteristics and needs in driving healthy behaviors; (2) health coaching as a collaborative relationship with chronically ill people and people at risk of developing illness; (3) the role of health coaching as a sense of coherence (SOC) promoter; (4) health coaching as a new profession in the healthcare ecosystem (e.g. NHS, UK), cooperating with multidisciplinary teams. Discussion From A.Antonovsky’s model approach to health, the SOC stands out and constitutes one of the basic theories in health coaching interventions, by strengthening the person’s capabilities of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. As an emerging profession, with ethical and a growing research foundation, it is facilitated by trained professionals in managing and monitoring health behavior change. Conclusions Health coaching aims to bring relevance, meaning and strategy to a person’s behavioral change. Health coaching demonstrates positive effects on several health parameters by supporting the implementation of health literacy development and empowering people to trigger sustainable changes that lead to healthier lifestyles.

Promoting a sustainable diet among office workers in Sweden: A pilot Study

Abstract Background Society is facing multiple challenges, including lifestyle-related diseases, alongside global climate change. Actions are needed to promote sustainable lifestyles advocating for healthy and environmentally friendly diets. This study aimed to assess how a sustainable lifestyle, compared to conventional healthy lifestyle education at work, affects participants’ energy intake, nutrient consumption, and diet-related CO2e. Methods An 8 week two-armed randomized trial was conducted, comprising a sustainable lifestyle arm (n = 21) and a healthy lifestyle arm (n = 16) based on the theoretical framework of the Behavioral Change Wheel, in total (n = 33) completed the trial. The office workers participated in 6 workshops during working hours. Linear mixed-effects models and analysis of variance tests were used for data analysis. Changes over time are presented as arms combined, along with their respective mean differences. Results A significant decrease in mean diet-related CO2e was observed (p < 0.001), with a decrease on average of 0.74 and 0.71 kg CO2e/day. The mean change in daily kilocalorie intake had a significant decrease over time (p = 0.008), on average of 192 and 386 Kcal. Moreover, a significant decrease in mean protein intake was observed (p < 0.001), with a decrease on average of 16 and 18 grams, possibly explaining the decrease in CO2e. No significant differences were observed between the arms at any timepoint. Conclusions Promoting sustainable lifestyle habits has a similar impact to advocating for a conventional healthy lifestyle regarding diet. This supports the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Despite the small sample size, insights into facilitating sustainable behaviors can influence public health policies across Europe and the workplace as an arena for health promotion. Key messages • The promotion of sustainable and healthy lifestyle habits at work can promote both individual and planetary health by decreasing diet-related CO2e emissions. • Here we demonstrate that the workplace has the potential to act as an arena to combat climate change.

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.

Exploring the Impact of Values Education on Sustainable Environmental Awareness and Behavior Among Eighth-Grade Students

Education plays a crucial role in fostering numerous established and sustainable behaviors in individuals. Among these behaviors, environmental awareness is particularly important because of its significant sociological impact. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of values education on environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative part of this research consists of 225 eighth-grade students and the qualitative part consists of six Turkish teachers. As a result of the quantitative analysis, it was found that the environmental attitude levels of the middle school students participating in this study were at a high level. In the qualitative analysis, it was found that the teachers participating in this study established a strong connection between mother tongue education, values education, and environmental education. The outcomes from the qualitative and quantitative analysis were discussed in depth and compared with the results previously presented in the literature. Additionally, the findings of this study indicated opportunities for future research as presented in the Discussion Section.

Clean vs green: the impact of reading short stories on sustainable and healthy cleaning behaviours

Fact-based information campaigns aimed at encouraging more sustainable behaviour have typically resulted in minor effects that tend not to last. Scholars in the fields of entertainment education have proposed storytelling as an alternative strategy. Most existing studies have focused on health communication, but there is increasing interest in exploring storytelling to promote pro-environmental behaviours. Our focus in this study are behaviours which have both health and environmental implications: personal cleaning, household cleaning, and laundry. In a study using both quantitative and qualitative analyses (from a survey to which 77 individuals responded), we find that messages embedded into a short story significantly changed behavioural intentions in readers across all three domains. Readers reported gaining knowledge from the stories, in terms of the specific products and practices that one could undertake and with respect to the commonly held misconception that aggressive cleaning practices in the home (e.g., high temperatures, strong chemicals) are beneficial to human health. Results have implications for interventions aimed at promoting behaviours that have joint benefits for human and environmental health.

Impact of Areal Factors on Students’ Travel Mode Choices: A Bayesian Spatial Analysis

A preliminary analysis of the 2018/2019 Austin Travel Survey indicated that most off-campus students in Travis County, TX, tend to use cars rather than more sustainable transportation modes, significantly contributing to traffic congestion and environmental impact. This study aims to analyze the impacts of areal factors, including environmental and transportation factors, on students’ choices of travel mode in order to promote more sustainable transport behaviors. Additionally, we investigate the presence of spatial correlation and unobserved heterogeneity in travel data and their effects on students’ travel mode choices. We have proposed two Bayesian models—a basic model and a spatial model—with structured and unstructured random-effect terms to perform the analysis. The results indicate that the inclusion of spatial random effects considerably improves model performance, suggesting that students’ choices of mode are likely influenced by areal factors often ‘unobserved’ in many individual travel mode choice surveys. Furthermore, we found that the average slope, sidewalk density, and bus-stop density significantly affect students’ travel mode choices. These findings provide insights into promoting sustainable transport systems by addressing environmental and infrastructural factors in an effort to reduce car dependency among students, thereby supporting sustainable urban development.

The Impact of Green Logistics on the Sustainable Development of Enterprises

This study examines the importance of green logistics for the sustainable development performance of enterprises. It analyzes the connotation and application of green logistics, the significance of corporate sustainable development, and the relationship between the two, to clarify the decisive influence of green logistics in contemporary enterprises. At the same time, it points out the existing problems in the development process of green logistics from multiple perspectives, indicating that the further development of green logistics requires the efforts and cooperation of enterprises, governments, and multiple parties in the supply chain. Following this positioning, several conceptual solutions are proposed, such as the innovation and sustainable utilization of green technology and green management in logistics, and the government's role as a third party in regulating the application of green logistics. The research results have theoretical significance, highlighting the impact of green logistics on corporate sustainable development and the important role of the government in sustainable development. The practical significance includes improving corporate sustainable development performance indicators in the technical and management dimensions, in order to further improve the organization's sustainable operations and behavior.

Environmental, Social and Governance Awareness and Organisational Risk Perception Amongst Accountants

The relationships between accountants’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and their perceptions of organisational risk are examined in this study. The emphasis is on the operational, strategic, financial and compliance risks of business organisations. A total of 462 accountants in Hong Kong were included via stratified random sampling and snowball sampling to ensure population diversity. A stratified random approach was used to include factors such as age, gender, income and experience, and snowball sampling amongst professional networks was used to ensure representativeness. A significant positive relationship exists between ESG awareness and risk perception, with environmental and governance factors emerging as the strongest predictors. Accountants with deep ESG awareness, especially in the aforementioned areas, can successfully identify and manage nontraditional risks such as regulatory changes and environmental threats. The findings highlight the need for institutionalising ESG-focused education in accounting and corporate governance to improve risk management capabilities. Increased ESG awareness can ensure responsible and sustainable business behaviour. Future research can expand the sample of accountants to executives and use longitudinal designs to capture the dynamic nature of ESG awareness and risk perception.

Influence of religiosity on sustainable consumer behavior in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

Influence of religiosity on sustainable consumer behavior in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

Factors Influencing Consumer Upcycling Behavior—A Study Based on an Integrated Model of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model

In the context of the global climate change debate, changing consumer awareness and guiding them towards sustainable lifestyles should be key considerations. This study investigates the factors influencing consumers’ upcycling behaviors by conducting research and collecting 336 valid questionnaires at the “Eco Blet” sustainable design exhibition and workshop held at Livat Beijing (Ingka Centres Beijing). The survey results revealed that consumers’ upcycling behavior is significantly influenced by subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived usefulness, and attitudes. In addition, individuals with higher levels of education and those with annual incomes of less than 100,000 RMB and more than 400,000 RMB are more likely to engage in upcycling. The empirical analysis of consumer upcycling behavior is conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM), and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and technology acceptance model (TAM) are integrated into a comprehensive framework. This research provides both theoretical support and practical insights for promoting sustainable consumer behaviors, contributing significantly to carbon emission reduction.

From Knowledge to Action: The Power of Green Communication and Social Media Engagement in Sustainable Food Consumption

Understanding what drives sustainable consumer behavior is crucial for effective green marketing strategies. We set out to explore the mechanisms explaining the relationships between environmental attitudes, perceived environmental knowledge, and green consumption values on consumer behaviors, specifically the mediating roles of receptivity to green communication and social media engagement with environmentally friendly firms. We also investigated the moderating role of information seeking in these relationships. Data were collected through a survey of 610 Greek respondents between May and July 2024 and analyzed using IBM SPSS and AMOS version 23. Findings show significant and positive paths between green consumption values and receptivity to green communication, e-word-of-mouth intention, food behavior, and other environmental behaviors, while receptivity to green communication and social media consumers’ engagement with environmentally friendly firms has a significant and positive impact on e-word-of-mouth intention and food behavior. Findings reveal that credible and detailed communication is essential for engaging information-seeking consumers, who are more critical of green messages.

How to measure the impact of landsenses ecology on sustainable development? A review of people-oriented emerging approaches

At present, the research of sustainable development is developing from a single local problem to a multi-scale, transdisciplinary and comprehensive study. The evaluation and monitoring of its progress need to adopt multi-disciplinary research methods and multi-dimensional, multi-scale identification mechanism. Landsenses ecology is an emerging scientific system that uses the basic principles of ecology to study the sustainable development of land-use planning, construction, and management from the aspects of natural elements, physical senses, psychological perceptions, social economy, process and risk. It provides an effective way for the multi-disciplinary integration research of the relationship between human and ecosystem, and provides an important method and theory for the sustainable transformation research of environmental system and social–economic system, and plays an important role in guiding and realizing the beneficial impact of human on natural ecosystem. This study describes 57 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2016 and 2024, using qualitative content analysis, and discusses the impact of landsenses ecology on the way sustainable development is perceived and practiced. The results suggest that the role of landsenses ecology in the creation of sustainable vision resonance and behavior is crucial to the study of sustainable transformation and will help to explore effective strategies for using intrinsic sustainable transformation as a deep leverage point.