Adolescent Energy Conservation: Dimensions of Attitude‐Behavior Consistency

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the nature of the relationship between energy conservation attitudes and behaviors of adolescents in the use of energy for personal and family‐related activities. Specifically, the study was designed to determine a level of attitude‐behavior consistency for each respondent and cor responding levels of selected attitudinal qualities. The association of selected demographic characteristics and attitude‐behavior consistency was also deter mined. Data were collected from 227 eleventh and twelfth grade students en rolled in both urban and rural public schools. The dependent variable was the attitude‐behavior consistency score. Independent variables included demo graphic characteristics as well as levels of attitudinal quality defined as affective, cognitive, and direct experience. The relationship existing between attitude and behavior was tested using correlational statistical analysis. Multiple regression, factorial analysis of variance, and t‐tests were used to determine significant sources of variance upon the consistency score. Energy conservation attitudes and behaviors of adolescents were found to be significantly correlated. Differ ences in the consistency of attitude and behavior were found to be significantly associated with sex and employment of adolescents. No significant differences in consistency were found to be associated with other demographic variables tested or with levels of attitudinal qualities measured.