Psychological Factors Influencing Pro-environmental Behavior in Developing Countries: Evidence From Colombian and Nicaraguan Students

Abstract

Identifying the determinants of human behavior is useful to adjust interventions and lead the civil society toward a stronger commitment to climate change (CC) mitigation and adaptation objectives, achieving greater support for successfully implementing environmental policies. Existing research has largely focused on case studies of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) in developed economies but there is very little evidence for developing countries. This study provides estimations of the effect of internal factors, such as sociodemographic variables, and four psychological dimensions (CC knowledge, environmental attitudes, self-efficacy, and trust in sources of environmental information) on PEBs. Data were obtained through a survey applied with future decision makers – university students – from Colombia (n = 4,769) and Nicaragua (n = 2,354). Indices were generated for PEBs and the psychological dimensions using z-scores and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Partial correlations were evaluated through the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. Our results suggest that, in order to reach the planned emission reduction targets, policy approaches should more strongly focus on educating and motivating citizens and prepare them for contributing to the environmental cause, as well as provide individual solutions to combat CC, rather than providing only information on its causes and consequences.

Does Social Awareness Intervention Increase Pro-Environmental Behaviour? An Observational Study

“…Whereas another study determined the sense of pride as an essential factor behind pro-environmental behaviour no guilt feeling (Bissing-Olson et al, 2016). Similar findings derived from other studies where moral values, social norm, attitude and behavioural control examined to be important factors for initiating and continuing pro-environmental behaviour (Moser, 2015;Bamberg & Möser, 2007;Chen et al, 2018;Culiberg & Elgaaied-Gambier, 2016;Díaz et al, 2020;Esfandiar et al, 2020;Esfandiar et al, 2019). The affiliation between social and personal factors with pro-environmental behaviour was unearthed in many other studies as well (Gifford et al, 2014, Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002, Kulin & Sevä, 2021, Wu, et al, 2021.…”

En Prensa Influencia Del Comportamiento Pro Ambiental De Profesores Sobre Estudiantes Universitarios en Cuarentena en Prensa

“…Results also denote a greater sensitivity of college students to perform this type of behavior (Doherty & Clayton, 2011), which is relevant if we ponder that this population may play an important role in environmental decision-making in their professional and public life (Díaz, et al, 2020).…”

“…Lo encontrado denota también una mayor sensibilidad de los estudiantes universitarios para ejecutar este tipo de conductas (Doherty & Clayton, 2011), lo cual es relevante si se toma en cuenta que dicha población puede jugar un rol importante en la toma de decisiones ambientales dentro de su vida profesional y pública (Díaz, et al, 2020).…”

Factors Influencing Pro-environmental Behavior to Use Public Transport: A Predictive Approach

“…Besides that, [9] and [10] studied the green purchasing behaviors in Germany and Vietnam respectively. [11] did research on students' consumption intentions of genetically modified food at a university in China, and study from the Indonesia [12], and other developing countries such as Colombian and Nicaraguan [13] have also been found. Studies based on Malaysian recycling behaviors [14] have also been found.…”