From personal convictions to collective action: Predicting employees’ pro-environmental behaviors in public and private spheres

Abstract

Promoting changes in human behavior is crucial for mitigating and reducing environmental damage. While there is much research focused on private-sphere or generalized pro-environmental behavior, there is a relative dearth of research explicitly examining public-sphere pro-environmental behavior from a collective action perspective. In response to the mixed empirical results from previous applications of the value-belief-norm model in organizational contexts, this study explores the full value-belief-norm model, taking into account public-sphere and private-sphere pro-environmental behaviors. A sample of 504 hospitality industry employees in Kazakhstan and 515 hospitality industry employees in the United States participated in this study. The results indicate a hierarchical relationship between values, beliefs, and behaviors and confirm that values indirectly influence pro-environmental behaviors through belief variables. The findings suggest that these beliefs play vital roles in translating values into actionable behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are provided.