Pro-environmental behavior is a key to environmental sustainability. It is important to know which variables influence the development of pro-environmental behavior and how important direct interaction with nature is for future environmental engagement. The aim of the research was to examine the correlation between childhood interaction with nature and pro-environmental behavior as an adult and the mediators influencing this correlation. The respondents (N = 370) were selected by the snowball method and completed an on-line questionnaire. Bivariate correlation and parallel mediation analysis were done. Previous research studies focused mainly on one type of influence, and this research brought a comparison of three mediators. The results confirmed that interaction with nature in childhood affects future pro-environmental behavior. The main mediator seems to be the affective mediator. The cognitive mediator and interaction with nature in adulthood had only a small mediation effect. Children’s emotional bonding with nature is the important element for the development of pro-environmental behavior. This appears to be a more effective way of ensuring stronger pro-environmental behavior in the future than building environmental knowledge or relying on sufficient interaction with nature in adulthood.
Keywords: affective mediator, interaction with nature, mediation analysis, pro-environmental behavior.
In the decades to come, global climate change poses a significant environmental, social, and economic threat. Among the various strategies that are being implemented to reduce this threat are those that focus on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the climate-friendly behaviour of the general public. The present study is focused on Czech Greenpeace donors. These donors represent a segment of the public that, while engaged in supporting systemic policy measures in the area of climate protection, also has the potential to grow in the area of climate-friendly household behaviour. Our research is based on a sample of 504 respondents and deals with this group's climate-relevant household behaviour. In relation to Community-Based Social Marketing, we examine the potential of Greenpeace donors to behave in a climate-friendly way, and we identify the barriers that prevent them from getting involved in a broader spectrum of climate-friendly behaviour. Our analysis is informed by several significant contemporary theories of pro-environemntal behaviour. We also highlight topic areas on which to focus when encouraging Greenpeace donors to further improve their climate-friendly behaviour.
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