Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Sustainable Behavior
2.1. Pro-Ecological Behaviors
2.2. Frugal Behaviors
2.3. Altruistic Behaviors
2.4. Equitable Behaviors
3. Correlates of Sustainable Behavior
3.1. Pro-Environmental Deliberation
3.2. Affinity towards Diversity
3.3. Environmental Emotions: The Role of Indignation
3.4. Happiness
4. Aims of the study
5. Method
5.1. Participants
5.2. Instruments
5.3. Procedure
5.4. Data Analysis
6. Results
SCALES /items | Mean | Sd | Alpha |
---|---|---|---|
INDIGNATION DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE | 0.79 | ||
When someone cuts down a tree | 2.25 | 1.35 | |
When someone throws their cigarette butts on the floor | 1.86 | 1.64 | |
When someone throws their trash on public roads. | 2.97 | 1.33 | |
When someone harms an animal, person or plant. | 3.73 | 1.19 | |
When observing factories that throw waste into rivers/sewage | 3.11 | 1.28 | |
When seeing streets full of traffic and filled with smoke | 2.50 | 1.34 | |
When observing that neighbors waste water | 3.31 | 1.27 | |
INTENTION TO ACT | 0.76 | ||
To participate in proecological manifestations | 1.28 | 1.06 | |
To donate money for environmental campaigns | 1.64 | 0.83 | |
To volunteer in environmental conservation | 1.76 | 0.91 | |
To collaborate in environmental protection | 1.85 | 0.88 | |
To sign against an act that harms the environment | 1.52 | 1.25 | |
To buy environmentally friendly products | 2.27 | 0.85 | |
To use energy efficient systems | 2.59 | 0.71 | |
To walk or use bike instead of car | 1.92 | 0.95 | |
To deposit paper in its container | 2.42 | 0.78 | |
To deposit glass in its container | 2.36 | 0.84 | |
To conserve water | 2.50 | 0.72 | |
AFFINITY TOWARDS DIVERSITY | 0.60 | ||
People of different races | 2.40 | 0.78 | |
People of different social classes | 2.60 | 0.69 | |
Only people my age | 2.14 | 1.15 | |
Different political orientations | 1.89 | 1.02 | |
People of different gender | 2.25 | 1.11 | |
Many types of animals | 2.06 | 1.08 | |
In my garden, only one type of plant | 1.94 | 1.19 | |
Likes visiting zoos, with many types of animals | 2.16 | 1.02 | |
The more variety of plants, the better | 2.31 | 0.94 | |
I only like certain types of pets | 1.59 | 1.08 | |
I only like one kind of weather. | 1.57 | 1.14 | |
I could live comfortably anywhere | 1.81 | 1.06 | |
FRUGALITY | 0.64 | ||
Does not buy a new car if old functions. | 2.75 | 1.34 | |
Wears same clothing. | 2.53 | 1.36 | |
Wouldn’t buy jewelry. | 2.93 | 1.28 | |
Buys lots of shoes. | 2.14 | 1.42 | |
Buys more food than needed. | 2.30 | 1.41 | |
Uses most earnings for buying clothing. | 2.12 | 1.35 | |
Always takes meals at home. | 2.49 | 1.25 | |
Rather walks than drives. | 2.75 | 1.41 | |
Reuse notebooks and paper. | 2.39 | 1.47 | |
Likes living lightly. | 2.08 | 1.21 | |
ALTRUISM | 0.80 | ||
Gives clothes to the poor | 2.21 | 0.82 | |
Assists people who fall or get hurt | 2.43 | 0.74 | |
Contributes financially with the Red Cross | 2.06 | 0.81 | |
Visit the sick at hospitals/homes | 1.03 | 0.88 | |
Helps olders or handicapped crossing street | 1.86 | 0.95 | |
Guides persons asking for direction | 2.29 | 0.78 | |
Provides some money to homeless | 1.95 | 0.83 | |
Participates in fund-collection rallies | 1.28 | 1.02 | |
Donates blood in response to campaigns | 0.74 | 0.98 | |
Cooperates with colleagues | 2.31 | 0.73 | |
EQUITY | 0.76 | ||
Wives should have same rights husbands have at home. | 3.62 | 0.88 | |
At work, boss should treat his/her subordinate fellows | |||
like his/her equals. | 3.04 | 1.17 | |
Children in my home have the same rights as adults in | |||
making important decisions. | 2.06 | 1.30 | |
Even people who don’t work should have guaranteed | |||
their access to health services | 3.40 | 0.95 | |
In my family, men and women have same cleanup chores. | 3.42 | 1.00 | |
Indians are equally capable to be in charge | |||
of a business as white people | 3.55 | 0.89 | |
I treat rich and poor people equally. | 2.86 | 1.18 | |
Poor people should live in the same city zone where the | |||
rich live | 2.72 | 1.20 | |
At school, a student is as important as a professor | 3.60 | 0.87 | |
In my family, girls and boys have the same educational | |||
opportunities. | 3.79 | 0.70 | |
Natural resources should be equitably distributed | 3.30 | 1.11 | |
PRO-ECOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR | 0.72 | ||
Waits until having a full load for laundry | 2.15 | 1.00 | |
Drive at speeds below 100 on freeways | 1.58 | 1.08 | |
Collects and recycles used paper | 1.35 | 1.01 | |
Brings empty bottles to a recycling bin | 1.06 | 0.96 | |
Has pointed out unecological behavior | 1.73 | 0.94 | |
Buys convenience foods | 1.82 | 0.94 | |
Buys products in refillable packages | 1.64 | 0.83 | |
Buys seasonal product | 2.26 | 0.78 | |
Uses a clothes dryer | 1.99 | 1.22 | |
Reads about environmental issues | 1.39 | 0.89 | |
Talks to friends about environmental problems | 1.38 | 0.87 | |
Kills insects with a chemical insecticide | 2.03 | 0.97 | |
Turn down air conditioning when leaving place | 2.44 | 0.88 | |
Looks for ways to reuse things | 1.94 | 0.88 | |
Encourages friends and family to recycle | 1.37 | 0.96 | |
Conserves gasoline by walking or bicycling | 1.62 | 1.01 | |
HAPPINESS | 0.83 | ||
In general, I consider myself happy | 5.85 | 1.06 | |
Compared to most of my peers, I consider myself happy | 5.87 | 1.12 | |
I enjoy life, regardless of what’s going on | 5.58 | 1.20 |
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Conflict of Interest
References
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Tapia-Fonllem, C.; Corral-Verdugo, V.; Fraijo-Sing, B.; Durón-Ramos, M.F. Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions. Sustainability 2013, 5, 711-723. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5020711
Tapia-Fonllem C, Corral-Verdugo V, Fraijo-Sing B, Durón-Ramos MF. Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions. Sustainability. 2013; 5(2):711-723. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5020711
Chicago/Turabian StyleTapia-Fonllem, César, Victor Corral-Verdugo, Blanca Fraijo-Sing, and Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos. 2013. "Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions" Sustainability 5, no. 2: 711-723. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5020711