The Positive Effect of pro-Environmental Behavior on Eudaimonic Well-Being in Young Adults: A Daily Diary Study Using the Within-Person Encouragement Design

Abstract

Introduction

Existing literature has highlighted the relevance of Pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)—actions intended to benefit the environment—to Eudaimonic well-being (EWB, i.e., meaning in life and connectedness to others). However, most research has focused on stable individual differences and utilized cross-sectional designs, giving limited attention to the momentary fluctuations of PEBs within individuals. This study aimed to investigate the daily impact of PEBs on EWB from a causal perspective, examining whether manipulating daily PEBs would result in higher levels of EWB on those days.

Method

We adopted the Within-Person Encouragement Design, an experimental approach employing instrumental variable estimation, in a Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling framework. Participants were 63 Italian young adults assessed over 21 days and who received 11 randomized encouragements (i.e., “Today we ask you to implement more pro-environmental actions than you would normally enact on a typical day”).

Results

A significant positive adherence effect of the encouragement on PEB, and a significant positive treatment effect of PEB on EWB was found.

Conclusion

These findings are promising for advancing successful behavioral interventions designed to encourage daily PEBs in younger generations and highlight the importance of PEBs for experiencing a more meaningful life and enhanced connectedness with others.