“I conserve more water than others, do I?" An exploratory study examining self-assessment misperceptions of water conservation

Vazquez-Casaubon, Estefanya; Cauberghe, Veroline; Sompel, Dieneke Van de

doi:10.1007/s10668-023-03009-2

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…However, self-reported measures often exhibit perceptual biases, suggesting that individuals may either underestimate or overestimate their actual water consumption [73]. This cognitive distortion acts as a barrier to water conservation [142]. The need to observe real water-consumption behaviors is highlighted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and Motivators of Household Water-Conservation Behavior: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Sanchez,

Rodriguez-Sanchez,

Sancho-Esper

2023

Water

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Water scarcity, aggravated by growing demands, represents a significant challenge for humanity. Promoting household sustainable water-consumption behaviors has become vital. The Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) framework stands out among many strategies to promote water conservation. However, many interventions in this domain often neglect significant theoretical insights, leading to gaps in addressing key social and contextual drivers of behavior. This study conducts a systematic and bibliometric literature review aimed at identifying determinants underlying household water-conservation behaviors. This review encompasses 155 papers published from 1984 to early 2023. Our findings show that this is a highly multidisciplinary field of study with a marked increase in research attention discerned post-2010, particularly from water-stressed regions. Furthermore, our findings also reveal an often-overlooked integration of guiding theories and an over-reliance on self-reported measures in prior research. Factors such as attitude, perceived efficacy, emotions, and habits emerge as pivotal in understanding water conservation. However, while attitudes have been extensively analyzed in previous research, the other factors deserve greater attention from researchers. Inconsistencies in demographic predictors further hint at potential moderating roles. This paper offers valuable insights for designing effective household water-conservation interventions through a social marketing lens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and Motivators of Household Water-Conservation Behavior: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Sanchez,

Rodriguez-Sanchez,

Sancho-Esper

2023

Water

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“…These assumptions have yet to be tested, but broadly consistent evidence comes from research on general comparisons with larger groups of others instead of situational comparisons with specific others: When people perceive themselves as more pro-environmental than a group average, the perception of superiority represses their intentions to engage in future pro-environmental behavior (Bergquist, 2020). In a similar vein, individuals who overestimate their water conservation efforts are more likely to report lower intentions for future water conservation (Vazquez-Casaubon et al, 2023).…”

Section: Emotional and Motivational Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morally Charged: Why People Prefer to Compare Themselves With Others Who Are Less Environmentally Friendly Than Themselves

Diel,

Friese

2024

Preprint

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In daily life, individuals compare their environmental behavior with specific others (e.g., friends, coworkers). We hypothesized that these moment-to-moment environmental social comparisons tend to be predominantly downward due to the moral nature of this domain. Three studies, including an experience sampling study, supported this hypothesis. Participants predominantly compared downward (vs. upward, Study 1, and vs. other common domains, Studies 2 and 3). This downward comparison tendency was partially explained by morality. Delving deeper into the emotional and motivational consequences of this tendency, in Study 3, participants reported more pride and (in part) more guilt regarding their environmental behavior compared with other domains. The motivational picture was mixed, with participants reporting more coasting but also more self-improvement in the environmental domain, thus potentially still recognizing the importance of changing to a more pro-environmental lifestyle. Therefore, emphasizing upward comparisons in intervention studies could motivate environmental actions beyond people’s satisfaction with their achievements.

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The role of emotional appeal in water conservation communication: a framework for social media engagement

Abu Bakar,

Wu,

Proverbs

et al. 2024

Sustain. Water Resour. Manag.

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Amidst growing concerns about water shortages, harnessing the potential of social media emerges as a crucial strategy in attempts to conserve consumption While informative messaging in environmental communication has been widely acknowledged, the role of emotional appeal remains underexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap by proposing a comprehensive framework that integrates emotional appeal, evoked through video creativity and multimedia effects. Focusing on the UK context and informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the study highlights the complex interplay between cognitive and affective factors in water conservation communication. By applying Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to a dataset containing 443 responses, the analysis reveals that emotional appeal, when evoked through creativity, not only positively influences individuals’ attitudes but also extends to shape perceived behavioural control. These findings further emphasise the ability of emotional appeal to serve as a complementary aspect that enriches individuals’ motivational framework and influences their inclination towards engaging in the intended behaviour. The study has important implications for improving current marketing efforts and encouraging behavioural shifts among water consumers. By including emotional appeal in social media communication strategies, environmental communicators can build empathy and promote sustainability more effectively. Additionally, this study offers a valuable understanding of the complex nature of water conservation communication, providing practical strategies for enhancing environmental messaging and encouraging positive behaviour changes.

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“I conserve more water than others, do I?" An exploratory study examining self-assessment misperceptions of water conservation

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

Barriers and Motivators of Household Water-Conservation Behavior: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Barriers and Motivators of Household Water-Conservation Behavior: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Morally Charged: Why People Prefer to Compare Themselves With Others Who Are Less Environmentally Friendly Than Themselves

The role of emotional appeal in water conservation communication: a framework for social media engagement

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