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Pro-environmental behavior correlates with present and future subjective well-being

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Abstract

This paper reports structural associations between psychological states, pro-environmental behavior, and present and future subjective well-being. A mailed questionnaire surveyed residents in Stockholm County, Sweden, to gather data on pro-environmental behaviors in water and energy saving at home, universalism and intrinsic satisfaction as motivational factors, and present and future subjective well-being. Results of path analysis suggest that: (1) Psychological factors (i.e., universalism, frugality, and participation categories of intrinsic satisfaction) correlate with pro-environmental behavior; (2) pro-environmental behavior could enhance not only present subjective well-being but expectations of future subjective well-being; and (3) expectations of future subjective well-being are negatively associated with current pro-environmental behavior. An important implication of this study is that expectation of better future subjective well-being may not always facilitate pro-environmental behavior. These results suggest that psychological factors both as antecedents and consequences play a significant role in building a sustainable society and improving our quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by TEPCO Memorial Foundation (Research Grant fiscal year 2007). Authors thank survey participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058573, Japan

    Naoko Kaida

  2. Human Technology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 6-11, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058566, Japan

    Kosuke Kaida

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Correspondence to Naoko Kaida.

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Kaida, N., Kaida, K. Pro-environmental behavior correlates with present and future subjective well-being. Environ Dev Sustain 18, 111–127 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-015-9629-y

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