Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigating pro-Environmental Behaviors of Lithuanian University Students

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the light of global environmental problems, investigating pro-environmental behaviors is becoming increasingly popular and relevant. The present study is aimed at investigating some of the most common pro-environmental behaviors (recycling, using environmentally friendly transportation, conserving water, and conserving electricity) of Lithuanian university students. A total of 282 university students from several Lithuanian universities enrolled in various study programs participated in the survey. Participants filled in measures based on the theory of planned behavior, as well as measures for their value orientations and their perceived descriptive norms of pro-environmental behaviors. The results showed that perceived behavioral control and personal norms towards sustainable behaviors more or less consistently predict the investigated behaviors, while attitudes towards behavior do not necessarily translate into behavioral intentions; moreover the role of value orientations or perceived descriptive norms might not be that substantial in understanding pro-environmental behaviors. Some suggestions for future research and for promoting pro-environmental behavior are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguilar-Luzón, M. D. C., García-Martínez, J. M. Á., Calvo-Salguero, A., & Salinas, J. M. (2012). Comparative study between the theory of planned behavior and the value-belief-norm model regarding the environment, on Spanish housewives’ recycling behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(11), 2797–2833. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00962.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. doi:10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (2011). The theory of planned behaviour: reactions and reflections. Psychology & Health, 26(9), 1113–1127. doi:10.1080/08870446.2011.613995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballantyne, R., & Packer, J. (2005). Promoting environmentally sustainable attitudes and behaviour through free-choice learning experiences: what is the state of the game? Environmental Education Research, 11(3), 281–295. doi:10.1080/13504620500081145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballantyne, R., & Packer, J. (2011). Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: the role of post-visit “action resources.”. Environmental Education Research, 17(2), 201–215. doi:10.1080/13504622.2010.530645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohner, G., & Schlüter, L. E. (2014). A room with a viewpoint revisited: Descriptive norms and hotel guests’ towel reuse behavior. PloS One, 9(8). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0104086.

  • Chan, L., & Bishop, B. (2013). A moral basis for recycling: Extending the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36, 96–102. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.07.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cialdini, R. B., Reno, R. R., & Kallgren, C. A. (1990). A focus theory of normative conduct: Recycling the concept of norms to reduce littering in public places. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(6), 1015–1026. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.6.1015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagiliūtė, R., & Liobikienė, G. (2015). University contributions to environmental sustainability: challenges and opportunities from the Lithuanian case. Journal of Cleaner Production, 108, 891–899. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Groot, J. I. M., & Steg, L. (2010). Relationships between value orientations, self-determined motivational types and pro-environmental behavioural intentions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 368–378. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald, I. J., Cooper, S. R., & Conchie, S. M. (2014). An extended theory of planned behaviour model of the psychological factors affecting commuters’ transport mode use. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40, 39–48. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.03.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, P. C., Maki, A., & Rothman, A. J. (2015). Promoting energy conservation behavior in public settings : The influence of social norms and personal responsibility. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 41(1), 30–34. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.11.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feather, N. T. (1995). Values, valences, and choice: the influences of values on the perceived attractiveness and choice of alternatives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1135–1151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fekadu, Z., & Kraft, P. (2002). Expanding the theory of planned behaviour: the role of social norms and group identification. Journal of Health Psychology, 7(1), 33–43. doi:10.1177/1359105302007001650.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Göckeritz, S., Schultz, P. W., Rendón, T., Cialdini, R. B., Goldstein, N. J., & Griskevicius, V. (2010). Descriptive normative beliefs and conservation behavior: The moderating roles of personal involvement and injunctive normative beliefs. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(3), 514–523. doi:10.1002/ejsp.643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, N. J., Cialdini, R. B., & Griskevicius, V. (2008). A Room with a Viewpoint: Using Social Norms to Motivate Environmental Conservation in Hotels. Journal of Consumer Research, 35(3), 472–482. doi:10.1086/586910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greaves, M., Zibarras, L. D., & Stride, C. (2013). Using the theory of planned behavior to explore environmental behavioral intentions in the workplace. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 34, 109–120. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.02.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griskevicius, V., Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N. J. (2008). Social norms: an underestimated and underemployed lever for managing climate change. International Journal of Sustainability Communication, 3(2008), 5–13 Retrieved from http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/MUNIdocs/SocialNormsResearch.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griskevicius, V., Cantú, S. M., & Vugt, M. V. (2012). The evolutionary bases for sustainable behavior: Implications for marketing, policy, and social entrepreneurship. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 31(1), 115–128. doi:10.1509/jppm.11.040.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huijts, N. M. a., Molin, E. J. E., & van Wee, B. (2014). Hydrogen fuel station acceptance: A structural equation model based on the technology acceptance framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 153–166. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.01.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iveroth, E., & Bengtsson, F. (2014). Changing behavior towards sustainable practices using Information Technology. Journal of Environmental Management, 139, 59–68. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.054.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jakovcevic, A., & Steg, L. (2013). Sustainable transportation in Argentina: Values, beliefs, norms and car use reduction. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 20, 70–79. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2013.05.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, F. G., Hubner, G., & Bogner, F. X. (2005). Contrasting the theory of planned behavior with the value-belief-norm model in explaining conservation behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35(10), 2150–2170. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02213.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kallgren, C. A., Reno, R. R., & Cialdini, R. B. (2000). A focus theory of normative conduct: When norms do and do not affect behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(8), 1002–1012. doi:10.1177/01461672002610009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3rd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, K. (2011). The role of media exposure, social exposure and biospheric value orientation in the environmental attitude-intention-behavior model in adolescents. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(4), 301–308. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.08.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liobikienė, G., & Juknys, R. (2016). The role of values, environmental risk perception, awareness of consequences, and willingness to assume responsibility for environmentally-friendly behaviour: the Lithuanian case. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112(2000), 3413–3422. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Wang, C., Shishime, T., & Fujitsuka, T. (2012). Sustainable consumption: Green purchasing behaviours of urban residents in China. Sustainable Development, 20(4), 293–308. doi:10.1002/sd.484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthies, E., Selge, S., & Klöckner, C. a. (2012). The role of parental behaviour for the development of behaviour specific environmental norms – The example of recycling and re-use behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(3), 277–284. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.04.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oreg, S., & Katz-Gerro, T. (2006). Predicting proenvironmental behavior cross-nationally: Values, the theory of planned behavior, and value-belief-norm theory. Environment and Behavior, 38(4), 462–483. doi:10.1177/0013916505286012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paillé, P., & Boiral, O. (2013). Pro-environmental behavior at work: Construct validity and determinants. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36, 118–128. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.07.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivis, A., & Sheeran, P. (2003). Descriptive norms as an additional predictor in the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analysis. Current Psychology, 22(3), 218–233. doi:10.1007/s12144-003-1018-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin, E., Ertepinar, H., & Teksoz, G. (2012). University students’ behaviors pertaining to sustainability: A structural equation model with sustainability-related attributes. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 7(3), 459–478 Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ990528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, W. P., Khazian, A. M., & Zaleski, A. C. (2008). Using normative social influence to promote conservation among hotel guests. Social Influence, 3(1), 4–23. doi:10.1080/15534510701755614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, S. H. (1973). Normative explanations of helping behavior: a critique, proposal, and empirical test. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9(4), 349–364. doi:10.1016/0022-1031(73)90071-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, S. H. (1977). Normative influences on altruism. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 221–279). New York: Academic Press. doi:10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60358-5

  • Spence, A., Leygue, C., Bedwell, B., & O’Malley, C. (2014). Engaging with energy reduction: Does a climate change frame have the potential for achieving broader sustainable behaviour? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 17–28. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.12.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steg, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., Keizer, K., & Perlaviciute, G. (2014). An integrated framework for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: The role of values, situational factors and goals. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 104–115. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.01.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, P. C. (2000). New environmental theories: toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407–424. doi:10.1111/0022-4537.00175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, P. C., & Dietz, T. (1994). The value basis of environmental concern. Journal of Social Issues, 50(3), 65–84. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1994.tb02420.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thøgersen, J. (2006). Norms for environmentally responsible behaviour: an extended taxonomy. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 26(4), 247–261. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.09.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tonglet, M., Phillips, P. S., & Read, A. D. (2004). Using the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the determinants of recycling behaviour: a case study from Brixworth, UK. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 41(3), 191–214. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2003.11.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Riper, C. J., & Kyle, G. T. (2014). Understanding the internal processes of behavioral engagement in a national park: A latent variable path analysis of the value-belief-norm theory. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 288–297. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.03.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, C., Shen, G. Q., & Yu, A. (2014). The moderating effect of perceived policy effectiveness on recycling intention. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 37, 55–60. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D., Soutar, G. N., Mazzarol, T., & Saldaris, P. (2013). Self-determination theory and consumer behavioural change: Evidence from a household energy-saving behaviour study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 35, 59–66. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.04.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, W., Hwang, K., McDonald, S., & Oates, C. J. (2010). Sustainable consumption: green consumer behaviour when purchasing products. Sustainable Development, 18, 20–31. doi:10.1002/sd.394.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychology, Mykolas Romeris University, Ateities Str. 20, LT-08303, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Mykolas Simas Poškus

Authors
  1. Mykolas Simas Poškus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mykolas Simas Poškus.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Poškus, M.S. Investigating pro-Environmental Behaviors of Lithuanian University Students. Curr Psychol 37, 225–233 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9506-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9506-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation