Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions (original) (raw)
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Measures of sustainable behavior (SB) usually include the self-report of activities aimed at the conservation of the natural environment. The sustainability notion explicitly incorporates both the satisfaction of human needs and the need of conserving the natural environment. Yet, the assessment of sustainable behaviors rarely considers the protection of the social environment as situation to investigate. In this paper, we propose the use of an instrument assessing SB, which includes the report of pro-ecological and frugal actions in addition to altruistic and equitable behaviors. The responses provided by 807 Mexican undergraduates to a questionnaire investigating those four instances of SB were processed within a structural equation model. Emotional (indignation due to environmental destruction, affinity towards diversity, happiness) and rational (intention to act) factors assumedly linked to sustainable behavior were also investigated. Significant interrelations among pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviors resulted, suggesting the presence of a higher-order-factor that we identified as SB. This factor, in turn, significantly correlated with the rest of the investigated pro-environmental factors.
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Sustainable behavior (SB) generally encompasses a series of actions intended at protecting both the physical and the social environments. SB may be indicated by pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic, and equitable conducts and one of the aims of environmental psychology is to investigate the psychological consequences of such actions. Previous studies had reported that the practice of pro-ecological and altruistic behaviors might result in enhanced levels of happiness; people living in more equitable countries seem to be happier, while a frugal consumption often conduces to a state of satisfaction and intrinsic motivation. Yet, so far no study considering the relationship between an aggregate of the four abovementioned instances of SB, on the one hand, and subjective wellbeing, on the other hand, had been conducted. Six-hundred-and-six undergraduate students at a Mexican university responded to an instrument assessing pro-ecological, altruistic, frugal and equitable behaviors, as well ...
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The theoretical framework on the cognitive information processing holds that mental processes such as formation of beliefs, attitudes, or perceptions are impossible to directly observe and measure. This condition is resolved by implementing questionnaires integrated with hypothetical variables which can measure individual responses as real entities. Hypothetical variables related to individual personality features in this study were ascription of responsibility, universal values, personal skills, and awareness of consequences. Universal values discern on inherent conflicts among people's motivational goals. Personal skills are concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions of others and oneself. Ascription of responsibility and awareness of consequences explain people's desire to take action. The four factors are statistically highly related and proved explaining the construct of sustainable behavior (SB) (Juárez-Nájera, 2009). SB as is defined in this work is an effective disposition to act. It was tested by applying a 67issue questionnaire among 106 participants, 69 Mexicans from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Azcapotzalco campus and 37 Germans from Leuphana Universitaet Lueneburg, Institut fur Umweltkommunication. SB was validated by means of an exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) which searches a factor structure underlying the hypothetical variables. To this end, this paper presents a pattern of the first components found by the PCA and the representative relations of the personality factors which explains sustainable behavior across participants in higher education institutions from two countries with vastly different cultures and economies. Ascription of responsibility appears as the main personal factor.
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This paper explores the relationship between sustainable behavior, indicated by frugal and equitable actions, and three intrinsic motives: satisfaction, autonomy and self-efficacy. One-hundred and seventy-three undergraduates at a Mexican university responded to a questionnaire investigating their sustainable actions and the intrinsic repercussions derived from those actions. Using structural equations, a model is specified and tested, which reveals the presence of a higher-order factor (sustainable behavior) subjacent to a high and significant covariance between frugal and equitable behaviors. The resulting higher-order-factor, in turn, significantly predicts the report of feelings of satisfaction, autonomy, and self-efficacy. These findings are in line with the idea that sustainable behavior is to a good extent self-determined through the operation of intrinsic consequences, which instigate people's pro-social and pro-environmental actions.
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Sustainable development and green initiatives continue to receive increased attention in the domain of business and consumers behaviour. It is the duty of researchers, practitioner and policy makers to continuously identify factors that can affect the motivation and behaviour of people to act in accordance with green behaviour patterns. The concept of sustainability is a broad concept which covers variegated topics where the possibility of a clear definition is bleak; however, the theme of the debate boils down to the adoption of economic and social practices in the present with a social concern for the future. There is a research gap regarding the understanding of green consumer perception about green products in the context of marketplace. The purpose of the study is to examine the contributing factors (norms, beliefs and values) as a proxy of sustainable behaviour. To achieve the research objective a survey method was adopted by using convenience sampling. Data is analysed using ...