Analyzing differences between different types of pro-environmental behaviors: Do attitude intensity and type of knowledge matter?

Abstract

This study explores whether the associations between general environmental attitudes and proenvironmental behaviors are heterogeneous and whether these associations depend on attitude intensity and the specific pro-environmental behavior. The study also examines the association between objective and subjective knowledge and behavior and the relationship with socioeconomic and personal characteristics. Mixed effects logistic regressions were performed using data from a representative nationwide survey of Spanish citizens aged 18 to 90 years (N = 2,495). The results revealed interesting patterns of heterogeneity. First, only curtailment behaviors (separating trash and using street trash cans) were significantly associated with general environmental attitudes. This result was observed only for the highest level of environmental attitudes. Second, whereas subjective knowledge was associated with all pro-environmental behaviors, objective knowledge was only associated with efficiency behavior (using low-energy light bulbs). Finally, men showed lower levels of reported behavior than women for all pro-environmental activities. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Comportamiento proambiental y conocimiento ambiental en universitarios: ¿el área de conocimiento hace la diferencia?

“…Por otro lado, la variable del género de los estudiantes presentó diferencia significativa respecto al CPA. Estos resultados concuerdan con lo reportado por Rivera-Torres y Garcés-Ayerbe (2018) y Casaló et al (2019), quienes refieren que las mujeres presentan más CPA que los hombres; así como más comportamiento ambiental específico respecto al consumo de agua (Sierra-Barón, Medina-Arboleda, & Aguilera, 2018), variable reportada como un factor influyente en el CPA (Gifford & Nilsson, 2014).…”

“…Cabe señalar que factores sociodemográficos como la edad, el género, la residencia rural o urbana, la identificación con un grupo, entre otros, se han relacionado con la preocupación y el CPA (Gifford, 2014). Otros estudios encontraron que las mujeres presentan mayores conocimientos, actitudes y comportamientos proambientales informados que los hombres (Casaló & Escario, 2018;Casaló, Escario, & Rodriguez-Sanchez, 2019;Longhi, 2013;Rivera-Torres & Garcés-Ayerbe, 2018), entre ellos, comportamientos específicos dentro del hogar como la separación de basuras en la fuente (Petiffor, 2012). Por otro lado, el estudio de Xiao y Hong (2010) reporta que los comportamientos fuera del hogar (por ejemplo, donaciones para organizaciones ambientales) no evidenciaron diferencias, y las mujeres presentaron niveles de preocupación más bajos.…”

Promoting sustainable development: The impact of differences in cultural values on residents' pro‐environmental behaviors

“…PEB refers to any behavior that is beneficial to the environment or minimizes harm to the environment (Casaló, Escario, & Rodriguez‐Sanchez, 2019; Lange & Dewitte, 2019; Larson, Stedman, Cooper, & Decker, 2015; Steg & Vlek, 2009). Stern (2000b) divided PEB into environmental activism, nonactivist behaviors in the public sphere, private‐sphere environmentalism and other environmentally significant behaviors.…”

Barriers of Consumer Behavior for the Development of the Circular Economy: Empirical Evidence from Russia

“…Statistically significant differences in the frequency of PEBs for the variable "gender" were found only for nine PEBs, of which three PEBs belong to the mobility group and three PEBs belong to the waste-management group. This result is rather unexpected, since in other countries, for example, in Spain [54], France [55], and China [56], women demonstrate more active proecological behavior.…”