The role of climate change risk perception, response efficacy, and psychological adaptation in pro-environmental behavior: A two nation study

Abstract

As the actions of individuals contribute substantially to climate change, identifying factors that underpin environmentally-relevant behaviors represents an important step towards modifying behavior and mitigating climate change impacts. This paper introduces a sequential model in which antecedent psychological and sociodemographic variables predict climate change risk perceptions, which lead to enhanced levels of response efficacy and psychological adaptation in relation to climate change, and ultimately to environmentally-relevant behaviors. The model is tested and refined using data from large national surveys of Australian and French residents. As hypothesized, in both samples, risk perception (indirectly), response efficacy (both indirectly and directly), and psychological adaptation (directly) predicted behavior. However, these effects were stronger in the Australian than in the French sample, and other unexpectedly strong direct effects were also observed. In particular, subscribing to a "green" self-identity directly predicted all endogenous variables, especially in the French sample. The study provides valuable insights into the processes underlying environmentally-relevant behaviors, while serving as a reminder that effects on behavior may be nation-specific. Strategies are recommended for promoting pro-environmental behavior through the enhancement of a green identity, response efficacy, and psychological adaptation.

The Use of Social Networking Sites and Pro-Environmental Behaviors: A Mediation and Moderation Model

“…SNSs can significantly influence individual and collective ecological concerns, environmental attitudes, and users’ pro-environmental behaviors [ 9 , 10 ]. Pro-environmental behaviors refer to the purposeful actions at the individual or community level that benefit the environment or at least decrease the negative effects on the environment [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Barriers of Consumer Behavior for the Development of the Circular Economy: Empirical Evidence from Russia

“…Statistically significant differences in the frequency of PEBs for the variable "gender" were found only for nine PEBs, of which three PEBs belong to the mobility group and three PEBs belong to the waste-management group. This result is rather unexpected, since in other countries, for example, in Spain [54], France [55], and China [56], women demonstrate more active proecological behavior.…”

Recreationist willingness to pay for aquatic invasive species management

“…Researchers have extensively studied risk perceptions and its influence on environmental behavior [ 15 – 17 ]. Risk perception is defined as the process of “discerning and interpreting signals from diverse sources regarding uncertain events and forming a subjective judgement of the probability and severity of current or future harm associated with these events” ([ 15 ], p. 1). The concept of risk perception has been applied extensively to behaviors related to climate change.…”

“…For example, a nationwide study of US residents found a significant influence of risk perception on voluntary climate change action (e.g., choice of transportation) and voting intentions (e.g., support for climate change-related government programs) [ 18 ]. Similarly, recent studies have reported risk perceptions as determinants of energy conservation [ 19 ], general pro-environmental behaviors (e.g., recycling, buying organic food) [ 15 ], willingness to participate in organic farming programs [ 20 ], and travel behavior [ 21 ]. While literature linking risk perception to invasive species prevention and control behaviors is scant, Estévez et al [ 9 ] provide an integrated risk perception and cognitive hierarchy theory framework to study the human and social dimensions of invasive species management.…”