The Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Protective Behavioral Intentions against PM2.5 in Parents of Young Children from Urban and Rural Beijing, China

Abstract

Smog and air pollution have fast become significant environmental problems and are attributed to rapid global industrialization and urbanization. Emissions of fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) increase smog and air pollution, with strong impacts on human health. Children are particularly vulnerable. While increasing studies are being conducted on the behaviors leading to PM2.5 toxicity from the perspective of environmental toxicants, there is a lack of research on factors influencing anti-PM2.5 behavioral intentions. Thus, this study aims to narrow this gap by adapting the theory of planned behavior framework to investigate the effects of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on protective behavioral intentions against PM2.5. In total, 1277 online questionnaires were collected from parents of young children living in urban and rural areas of Beijing, and the data was analyzed using correlation, regression, and path analyses. Results revealed that there were significant differences between parents from urban and rural areas in terms of attitude (t = 4.727 > 1.96, p < 0.001), subjective norms (t = 5.529 > 1.96, p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (t = 6.155 > 1.96, p < 0.001), and anti-PM2.5 behavioral intentions (t = 6.838 > 1.96, p < 0.001). Path analysis revealed that parents from urban and rural areas had different behavioral intention paths. For urban parents, the findings indicated that subjective norms (β = 0.73, t = 21.84 > 3.29) and perceived behavioral control (γ = 0.22, t = 6.12 > 3.29) had direct impacts on anti-PM2.5 behavioral intentions. In contrast, the attitudes (γ = 0.39, t = 3.74 > 3.29) and subjective norms (β = 0.60, t = 8.55 > 3.29) of rural parents were found to directly influence anti-PM2.5 behavioral intentions.

Understanding Environmental Attitude and Willingness to Pay With an Objective Measure of Attitude Strength

“…The questions were crafted based on a local brochure on air pollution designed by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and widely distributed to Beijing residents by the urban neighborhood offices, taking into account of feedback from a panel of local EPD officials and environmental scholars so as to ensure content validity. A similar approach has been used by Fryxell and Lo (2003) for constructing a scale of environmental knowledge and Liu et al (2018) for constructing measures of attitude, subjective norms, and environmental behaviors within a similar culture (i.e., Beijing and China). However, we did not use their scale because it measured the general environmental knowledge rather than specific environmental knowledge on air visibility; also in addition, their 40-item scale would be lengthy for our online survey.…”

Factors influencing intention to follow the “stay at home” policy during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Behavioral Intention could be defined as a probability to engage in a certain behavior (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975). According to TPB, behavioral intention shows how strong someone's intention to try and how much effort she or he is willing to do to perform the said behavior (Ajzen, 1991; Liu et al , 2018; Zeithaml et al , 1996). It can be concluded that the intention to follow the “Stay at Home” policy during the COVID-19 pandemic is a citizen's strong willingness to follow the policy.…”

Examining the intention to stay home due to COVID-19: a pandemic's second wave outlook

“…ItSAH is measured on three items adapted from Sumaedi et al (2020a, b). These items are developed by Zeithaml et al (1996), Peters and Templin (2010) and Liu et al (2018). The sample items of the scale are “I intend to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic” and “I urge other people to stay at home during COVID-19 pandemic.”…”

“…An intention is associated with behavioural, which shows a possibility to take part in a particular behaviour (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975). It also underlines the individuals' willingness and extent of efforts which he/she made to accomplish behaviour (Ajzen, 1991; Zeithaml et al , 1996; Liu et al , 2018). In this way, an intention of individuals stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects the citizens' sturdy willing to act upon such the behaviour (Sumaedi et al , 2020a, b) which can be classified as a health-related behaviour.…”