Sustainability Behaviors among College Students: An Application of the VBN Theory

Autor/inn/en	Whitley, Cameron T.; Takahashi, Bruno; Zwickle, Adam; Besley, John C.; Lertpratchya, Alisa P.
Titel	Sustainability Behaviors among College Students: An Application of the VBN Theory
Quelle	In: Environmental Education Research, 24 (2018) 2, S.245-262 (18 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1350-4622
DOI	10.1080/13504622.2016.1250151
Schlagwörter	Values; Beliefs; Theories; Sustainability; Student Behavior; Psychological Patterns; Social Influences; Undergraduate Students; Political Candidates; Public Policy; Conservation (Environment); Recycling; Energy Conservation; Food; Transportation; Altruism; Hypothesis Testing; Predictor Variables; Student Surveys; Likert Scales; Structural Equation Models; Michigan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Wertbegriff; Belief; Glaube; Theory; Theorie; Nachhaltigkeit; Student behaviour; Schülerverhalten; Sozialer Einfluss; Öffentliche Ordnung; Conservation; Environment; Konservierung; Bewahung; Umwelt; Energieerhaltung; Energiespeicherung; Lebensmittel; Verkehrswesen; Altruistic behavior; Altruismus; Hypothesenprüfung; Hypothesentest; Prädiktor; Schülerbefragung; Likert-Skala
Abstract	While Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory has been widely applied to various populations, it has seldom been tested on college students. This study extends VBN theory to examine what socio-psychological factors influence sustainability behaviors among university students. Undergraduate students are an interesting and novel population, as they are still forming their values and beliefs, and therefore may be more open to engage in sustainability efforts. This study assessed five sustainability behaviors: (a) support for political candidates who say they will strengthen environmental policies, (b) recycling, (c) electricity use, (d) food selection, and (e) transportation choices. Findings support the notion that one's values matter in environmental decision-making, but that different values are associated with different behaviors. Those who adhere to biospheric and altruistic values were more likely to engage in a range of sustainability behaviors whereas those who adhere to egoistic values were less likely to engage in most behaviors. Those who adhere to traditional or openness to change values showed mixed results. We discuss the theoretical application, practical recommendations for behavior change campaigns, and offer suggestions for future research. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01