Application of Protection Motivation Theory to Investigate Sustainable Waste Management Behaviors

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study is to explain individuals' engagement in sustainable waste management behaviors (SWMBs) based on the application of protection motivation theory (PMT). SWMBs include waste avoidance, green purchasing, reuse and recycle, and waste disposal behaviors. Considering the amount of solid waste generation per capita per day during the past 10 years, the statistical records from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) illustrate the increasing trend of solid waste generation from 1.18 kg per capita per day in 2005 to 1.28 kg per capita per day 2015. Many scholars have asserted that human beings should alter their behaviors to successfully reduce their environmental impact. Several environmental problems (e.g., air pollution, water pollution, and odors) caused by waste disposal are consequences of human behaviors; therefore, citizens' engagement in SWMBs should be widely promoted. This study applies PMT to explore how individuals' SWMBs are influenced by their perceived threats caused by environmental contamination from waste disposal and their perceived coping capability. The Bangkok metropolitan area was selected as a case study because it has faced serious waste management problems, caused by increasing amounts of solid waste over the last ten years. Questionnaire surveys were administered to 193 public and private office workers residing in the city of Bangkok. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to justify the effects of individual threat appraisal and coping appraisal on SWMB engagement. The results illustrated that respondents' self-efficacy could explain all types of SWMBs. On the contrary, response efficacy was not a significant predictor of all behaviors. People's perceived severity of adverse consequences caused by pollutants could significantly explain their waste disposal and reuse and recycle behaviors, and the perceived probability of being impacted by pollutants could explain only reuse and recycling behaviors. Thus, PMT may be well suited for explaining low-cost and simple SWMBs that require less effort. To promote people's engagement in each type of SWMB, different communication campaigns should be established.

Will concerns for ski tourism promote pro‐environmental behaviour? An implication of protection motivation theory

“…According to Grothmann and Patt's (), people's intention to conduct adaptation behaviours is the result of the risk‐ and adaptation‐appraisal processes. This view is generally confirmed by studies in various context, for example, precautionary and adaptation action against flood or drought (Grothmann & Reusswig, ; van Duinen, Filatova, Geurts, & van der Veen, ), climate change campaigns (Cismaru, Cismaru, Ono, & Nelson, ), the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce climate change risks (Bockarjova & Steg, ), sustainable waste management behaviours (Janmaimool, ), support of climate change policies (Lam, ), general climate change mitigation behaviours (Kim et al, ), farmer's adaptation intention against climate change (Le Dang, Li, Nuberg, & Bruwer, ), and so forth.…”

Determinants of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies: An Application of Protection Motivation Theory in Konta District, South Western Ethiopia

“…The theory proposes a conceptual framework to explain factors predicting risk preventative behaviors. The central notion is that individuals' decision to participate in risk preventive behaviors is made based on their motivation to protect themselves from threats such as natural disasters and global climate change (Janmaimool, 2017) and people balance different risks and potential benefits (Keshavarz & Karami, 2016). The decision of an individual towards risk preventive behavior is made based on the results of both threat appraisal and coping appraisal (Rogers, 1983).…”

“…Threat appraisal is a cognitive process that individuals use to estimate the level of threat (Janmaimool, 2017). It is directed to answering the question: is the existing risk (so) threatening?…”

“…Accordingly, perceived severity of the threat means the degree of seriousness of the possible harms that is perceived by an individual while perceived vulnerability reflects an individual's perceptions of his susceptibility to the harms. These perceptions of vulnerability and severity motivate individuals to perform adaptive responses, such as climate change response measures (Janmaimool 2017). According to this theory, higher perception of severity and vulnerability is likely to enhance individual motivation to perform risk preventative behavior (Keshavarz & Karami, 2016).…”

Recycling Intention and Behavior among Low-Income Households

“…In the context of environment, self-efficacy was found to determine behavioral intention. Janmaimool [56] also believed that self-efficacy predicted all types of sustainable waste management behaviors. Besides, Kim and Choi [49] suggested that self-efficacy improved green purchase behavior.…”