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Human Behavior, Psychology and Sustainable Well-Being: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 November 2025 | Viewed by 1235

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Interests: evidence-based practice; intervention; assessment; QoL; happiness
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

In an era defined by unprecedented environmental challenges, the interplay between human behavior, the environment, and sustainable well-being has become paramount. This Special Issue delves into the intricate relationship between our actions, the natural world, and the pursuit of lasting well-being. We invite researchers and scholars to contribute their insights into the complex dynamics that will shape our planet's future. 

This Special Issue seeks to explore a wide range of topics, including the following:

  • The psychology of sustainable behavior: what motivates individuals and communities to adopt environmentally conscious practices?
  • Climate change and human responses: how do people perceive and react to the pressing issues of climate change, and what can be done to foster constructive responses?
  • Biodiversity conservation: examining the crucial link between human activities and the preservation of diverse ecosystems.
  • Sustainable urban planning: investigating the role of city design in fostering sustainable living and human well-being.
  • Ecological economics: evaluating the economic aspects of environmental sustainability and how they affect quality of life.
  • Social networks and sustainability: how social networks, both online and offline, influence the spread of environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
  • Community engagement and resilience: understanding the role of communities in building resilience to environmental challenges and fostering sustainable behaviors.
  • Environmental justice and equity: investigating how social and economic factors intersect with environmental issues and exploring strategies to address environmental disparities.
  • Policy and governance: analyzing the impact of government policies and international agreements on shaping sustainable behaviors and practices within societies.
  • Environmental education and awareness: exploring the role of education and communication in promoting sustainable behaviors and environmental awareness.
  • Health and the environment: investigating the impacts of environmental factors on human health and well-being, and strategies for improving both.
  • Technological innovations: examining how technological advancements can aid in environmental conservation and foster sustainable practices.
  • Cultural perspectives and sustainability: understanding how cultural values and traditions influence human behavior in relation to the environment. 

We encourage a diverse array of submissions that encompass these topics, as they are vital components in the larger narrative of human behavior, the environment, and sustainable well-being. 

I look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Wenjie Duan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable behavior
  • happiness promotion
  • assessment
  • intervention
  • cultural differences
  • social policy
  • well-being
  • environmental change
  • climate change

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

34 pages, 2877 KiB  
Article
“More than a Feeling”: How Eco-Anxiety Shapes Pro-Environmental Behaviors and the Role of Readiness to Change
by Marina Baroni, Giulia Valdrighi, Andrea Guazzini and Mirko Duradoni
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 6154; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136154 - 4 Jul 2025
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Eco-anxiety is a complex and multifaceted construct linked with engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. However, further investigation is needed to observe the putative psychological determinants potentially supporting this kind of relationship. In line with this, the study aimed to investigate differences between individuals with [...] Read more.
Eco-anxiety is a complex and multifaceted construct linked with engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. However, further investigation is needed to observe the putative psychological determinants potentially supporting this kind of relationship. In line with this, the study aimed to investigate differences between individuals with and without eco-anxiety in terms of their engagement in sustainable habits by also examining the psychological determinants above in terms of readiness to change (RTC). Additionally, the study also aimed to examine potential direct and indirect associations between these variables, distinguishing among the different dimensions of eco-anxiety as well as investigating the putative mediator role of RTC. Data were collected from 501 participants through an online survey. To address the research objectives, both Student’s t-tests and network analysis (NA) were conducted. Moreover, based on NA outputs, a mediation analysis was carried out. The results pointed out that certain dimensions of eco-anxiety (e.g., rumination) are directly linked to the enactment of pro-environmental behaviors. Conversely, other dimensions (e.g., behavioral symptoms) appear to be indirectly associated with sustainable behaviors through readiness to change (RTC). Moreover, the network analysis pointed out that some eco-anxiety dimensions may act differently in support of sustainable action engagement through a gender-sensitive perspective. Finally, the mediation analysis confirmed the role of some of the RTC dimensions in mediating the link between eco-anxiety factors and pro-environmental behaviors. In conclusion, this study highlighted the multidimensional nature of eco-anxiety, suggesting that, for certain dimensions, it may be necessary to target specific psychological determinants to effectively foster pro-environmental behavioral engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Behavior, Psychology and Sustainable Well-Being: 2nd Edition)
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