Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102848
Ava Disney , Kelly S. Fielding , Winnifred R. Louis
Understanding who is currently (dis)engaged with environmental issues is important in targeting efforts to increase the momentum of environmentalism. However, previous research examining the sociodemographic groups associated with environmental (dis)engagement has produced inconsistent results. We contend that one reason for these inconsistencies is that the linear relationships between environmental engagement and independent sociodemographic groups that have been analysed in conventional approaches (e.g., regression) do not capture the roles of non-monotonic relationships and intersectional sociodemographic groups. To address these limitations of past research, we conducted latent profile analyses using data from Australia (N = 1074), New Zealand (N = 969) and the United States (N = 1780) to understand how groups differ in their environmental beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. We found that the most engaged and least engaged subgroups across all three countries are consistent with past research: an Environmental Activists profile associated with left-leaning, highly educated, White women; and a Disengaged Skeptics profile associated with right-leaning, older, less educated, White men. Going beyond the findings of past research, our latent profile analyses reveal a number of profiles with comparatively moderate levels of environmental engagement and conflicting attitudes and actions, associated with younger people, parents, and people of colour or with immigrant backgrounds. We discuss the theoretical implications of our novel findings for past research and the practical implications of our findings for strategic pro-environmental campaigns.
{"title":"Re-evaluating the ‘who’ in environmentalism using latent profile analysis","authors":"Ava Disney , Kelly S. Fielding , Winnifred R. Louis","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding who is currently (dis)engaged with environmental issues is important in targeting efforts to increase the momentum of environmentalism. However, previous research examining the sociodemographic groups associated with environmental (dis)engagement has produced inconsistent results. We contend that one reason for these inconsistencies is that the linear relationships between environmental engagement and independent sociodemographic groups that have been analysed in conventional approaches (e.g., regression) do not capture the roles of non-monotonic relationships and intersectional sociodemographic groups. To address these limitations of past research, we conducted latent profile analyses using data from Australia (<em>N</em> = 1074), New Zealand (<em>N</em> = 969) and the United States (<em>N</em> = 1780) to understand how groups differ in their environmental beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. We found that the most engaged and least engaged subgroups across all three countries are consistent with past research: an <em>Environmental Activists</em> profile associated with left-leaning, highly educated, White women; and a <em>Disengaged Skeptics</em> profile associated with right-leaning, older, less educated, White men. Going beyond the findings of past research, our latent profile analyses reveal a number of profiles with comparatively <em>moderate</em> levels of environmental engagement and conflicting attitudes and actions, associated with younger people, parents, and people of colour or with immigrant backgrounds. We discuss the theoretical implications of our novel findings for past research and the practical implications of our findings for strategic pro-environmental campaigns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102848"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102847
Heqing Huang, Jiangang Du
Urbanization has increased individuals' desire to connect with nature, but how nature influences individuals' decision-making strategies is poorly understood. Through five experiments and a secondary data analysis, we show that individuals in natural environments rely more on feelings rather than reasons in their decision-making processes, compared to those in built environments. This, in turn, makes individuals more likely to be persuaded by affectively appealing information and become more susceptible to momentary emotional inputs. Self-authenticity is the underlying mechanism driving this effect. This research contributes to the literature on nature contact and individuals' decision-making strategies.
{"title":"Nature contact increases reliance on feelings in decision-making","authors":"Heqing Huang, Jiangang Du","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urbanization has increased individuals' desire to connect with nature, but how nature influences individuals' decision-making strategies is poorly understood. Through five experiments and a secondary data analysis, we show that individuals in natural environments rely more on feelings rather than reasons in their decision-making processes, compared to those in built environments. This, in turn, makes individuals more likely to be persuaded by affectively appealing information and become more susceptible to momentary emotional inputs. Self-authenticity is the underlying mechanism driving this effect. This research contributes to the literature on nature contact and individuals' decision-making strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102847"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102838
Izabela Skoczeń , Benedikt Pirker
An Independent Expert Panel recently proposed amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to include the crime of ‘ecocide’ (the mass destruction of the environment). However, according to international law experts, its definition of ecocide is expected to fall prey to two biases. First, anthropocentrism understood as the mechanism of overestimating human benefit and underestimating environmental cost. Second, short-termism or temporal discounting of environmental risks, understood as the preference for immediate benefits at the expense of long-term gains. The disputed part of the definition is the proportionality test in the form of a cost-benefit analysis, which we argue to be subject to the affect heuristic.
Some experts have suggested lowering the required mental state (mens rea) threshold in the definition from intent and knowledge to recklessness and negligence. In three experiments (N = 919), we find that the two biases indeed affect the ascriptions of mental states, proportionality and responsibility based on the current phrasing of the definition. Thus, in line with previous research in environmental psychology, we find that moral emotions impact environmental judgement.
We also find that mentioning future generations, as well as their harm in the form of lack of access to drinkable water (resource dilemma), constitutes an effective countermeasure to the bias. Finally, we find that lowering the mens rea threshold alleviates probative difficulties and helps reduce bias. We propose replacing the cost-benefit analysis in the proportionality test with an impact assessment tool.
{"title":"Anthropocentrism and short-termism in (international) legal definitions of ecocide – An experimental approach","authors":"Izabela Skoczeń , Benedikt Pirker","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An Independent Expert Panel recently proposed amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to include the crime of ‘ecocide’ (the mass destruction of the environment). However, according to international law experts, its definition of ecocide is expected to fall prey to two biases. First, anthropocentrism understood as the mechanism of overestimating human benefit and underestimating environmental cost. Second, short-termism or temporal discounting of environmental risks, understood as the preference for immediate benefits at the expense of long-term gains. The disputed part of the definition is the proportionality test in the form of a cost-benefit analysis, which we argue to be subject to the affect heuristic.</div><div>Some experts have suggested lowering the required mental state (mens rea) threshold in the definition from intent and knowledge to recklessness and negligence. In three experiments (<em>N</em> = 919), we find that the two biases indeed affect the ascriptions of mental states, proportionality and responsibility based on the current phrasing of the definition. Thus, in line with previous research in environmental psychology, we find that moral emotions impact environmental judgement.</div><div>We also find that mentioning future generations, as well as their harm in the form of lack of access to drinkable water (resource dilemma), constitutes an effective countermeasure to the bias. Finally, we find that lowering the mens rea threshold alleviates probative difficulties and helps reduce bias. We propose replacing the cost-benefit analysis in the proportionality test with an impact assessment tool.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102838"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145579332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102841
Nina L. Frings , Kristian S. Nielsen , Zahra Rahmani Azad , Ulf J.J. Hahnel
To accelerate climate change mitigation, substantial lifestyle changes and more ambitious climate policies are urgently needed. However, realizing behavior changes is challenged by widespread misperceptions about the relative climate impact of different behaviors, making it difficult even for motivated individuals to identify which actions to prioritize and which policies to support. Little is known about the cross-national variability of such impact perceptions and their association with climate-relevant outcomes. We aim to address this gap with a pre-registered cross-country study (N = 2742) in China, Germany, and the United States. Using a novel experimental paradigm, we investigated carbon footprint accuracy (how accurately individuals judge the objective size of carbon footprints) and impact perceptions (the perceived contribution of specific behaviors to carbon footprints). We then examined associations between these two constructs and self-reported climate-related behavior and support for behavior-targeted climate policies. Across the three countries, participants showed low accuracy in estimating carbon footprints and underestimated the impact of carbon-intensive behaviors on those footprints. Despite prevalent behavior-specific misperceptions, the impact perceptions of different behaviors were independent of each other, showing no evidence for compensatory judgments. Participants’ carbon footprint accuracy and impact perceptions were associated with corresponding self-reported behavior across all countries. However, the association between impact perceptions and climate policy support varied across countries, with impact perceptions having a direct effect in Germany, no effect in China, and a moderated effect by political orientation in the United States. Our study highlights the need for cross-national research to further uncover which contexts foster (in)accurate behavioral knowledge and corresponding climate-friendly behavior.
{"title":"Climate impact perceptions and associations with reported behaviors and policy support in three countries","authors":"Nina L. Frings , Kristian S. Nielsen , Zahra Rahmani Azad , Ulf J.J. Hahnel","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102841","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102841","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To accelerate climate change mitigation, substantial lifestyle changes and more ambitious climate policies are urgently needed. However, realizing behavior changes is challenged by widespread misperceptions about the relative climate impact of different behaviors, making it difficult even for motivated individuals to identify which actions to prioritize and which policies to support. Little is known about the cross-national variability of such impact perceptions and their association with climate-relevant outcomes. We aim to address this gap with a pre-registered cross-country study (<em>N</em> = 2742) in China, Germany, and the United States. Using a novel experimental paradigm, we investigated carbon footprint accuracy (how accurately individuals judge the objective size of carbon footprints) and impact perceptions (the perceived contribution of specific behaviors to carbon footprints). We then examined associations between these two constructs and self-reported climate-related behavior and support for behavior-targeted climate policies. Across the three countries, participants showed low accuracy in estimating carbon footprints and underestimated the impact of carbon-intensive behaviors on those footprints. Despite prevalent behavior-specific misperceptions, the impact perceptions of different behaviors were independent of each other, showing no evidence for compensatory judgments. Participants’ carbon footprint accuracy and impact perceptions were associated with corresponding self-reported behavior across all countries. However, the association between impact perceptions and climate policy support varied across countries, with impact perceptions having a direct effect in Germany, no effect in China, and a moderated effect by political orientation in the United States. Our study highlights the need for cross-national research to further uncover which contexts foster (in)accurate behavioral knowledge and corresponding climate-friendly behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102841"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102846
Jessica E. Mitchell , Lauren Ferguson , Phil Symonds , Pia Hardelid
Background
There is increasing evidence that various components of adverse housing conditions may influence mental health outcomes for children and young people. A comprehensive review whether, and to what extent these exposures impact on children and young people's mental health is missing from the literature.
Objectives
To conduct a systematic review of the evidence regarding the association between adverse housing conditions (excluding homelessness) and mental health in children and young people aged 2–24 years.
Methods
We searched peer-reviewed literature for relevant quantitative studies in electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO), grey literature, and reference lists of identified articles published in English from January 2000. Risk of bias was assessed using the Navigation Guide, and results were described via a narrative synthesis.
Results
Thirty-four studies spanning 18 countries met our inclusion criteria. Adverse housing conditions were indicated by overcrowding, poor facilities or structural quality, no access to natural space at home (e.g., private or shared garden or balcony), energy poverty, mould or damp, indoor air pollution, and indoor noise. Children and young people's mental health was measured by self- or caregiver-reported emotional and behavioural problems, depression, stress, general well-being, quality of life (QoL), social competence, hyperactivity or inattention, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. Thirty-one of 34 studies (91.2 %) were rated as "low” to “probably high” risk of bias. Twenty-seven studies (79.4 %) found that adverse housing conditions were associated with mental health difficulties including emotional and behavioural problems, depression, hyperactivity symptoms and ASD symptoms, and reduced mental health competence in children and young people. Evidence predominantly suggests that overcrowding and mould or damp exposures are significantly associated with mental health problems.
Discussion
Adverse housing conditions have a negative impact on children and young people's mental health, particularly on emotional or behavioural problems and mental well-being. Future studies should use standardised and objective measures of adverse housing exposures and cohort study designs to determine any critical or sensitive periods of exposure. Policies to improve housing for families with children are likely to have mental health benefits for children and young people.
Funding and registration: None; registered at PROSPERO: CRD42022373171.
{"title":"Mental health impact of adverse housing conditions on children and young people: A systematic review","authors":"Jessica E. Mitchell , Lauren Ferguson , Phil Symonds , Pia Hardelid","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There is increasing evidence that various components of adverse housing conditions may influence mental health outcomes for children and young people. A comprehensive review whether, and to what extent these exposures impact on children and young people's mental health is missing from the literature.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To conduct a systematic review of the evidence regarding the association between adverse housing conditions (excluding homelessness) and mental health in children and young people aged 2–24 years.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched peer-reviewed literature for relevant quantitative studies in electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO), grey literature, and reference lists of identified articles published in English from January 2000. Risk of bias was assessed using the Navigation Guide, and results were described via a narrative synthesis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirty-four studies spanning 18 countries met our inclusion criteria. Adverse housing conditions were indicated by overcrowding, poor facilities or structural quality, no access to natural space at home (e.g., private or shared garden or balcony), energy poverty, mould or damp, indoor air pollution, and indoor noise. Children and young people's mental health was measured by self- or caregiver-reported emotional and behavioural problems, depression, stress, general well-being, quality of life (QoL), social competence, hyperactivity or inattention, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. Thirty-one of 34 studies (91.2 %) were rated as \"low” to “probably high” risk of bias. Twenty-seven studies (79.4 %) found that adverse housing conditions were associated with mental health difficulties including emotional and behavioural problems, depression, hyperactivity symptoms and ASD symptoms, and reduced mental health competence in children and young people. Evidence predominantly suggests that overcrowding and mould or damp exposures are significantly associated with mental health problems.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Adverse housing conditions have a negative impact on children and young people's mental health, particularly on emotional or behavioural problems and mental well-being. Future studies should use standardised and objective measures of adverse housing exposures and cohort study designs to determine any critical or sensitive periods of exposure. Policies to improve housing for families with children are likely to have mental health benefits for children and young people.</div><div>Funding and registration: None; registered at PROSPERO: CRD42022373171.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102846"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145579334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flooding is a consequence of climate change that significantly affects individuals’ emotions, yet it remains unclear whether these emotional responses influence climate change perception (CCP) and climate change mitigation behaviour (CCMB). This systematic review examined the role of emotional responses in influencing CCP and CCMB among flood victims and identified which emotional responses have been explored in the literature. A comprehensive search across nine databases yielded only sixteen eligible studies, highlighting the limited research attention to this topic. Sample sizes ranged from 15 to 1137 participants, and all studies focused on individuals with flood experience. Studies were synthesised narratively following PRISMA guidelines. Despite methodological variation, the findings indicate a potential role for negative emotional responses, particularly concern, worry, fear, and helplessness, in influencing both CCP and CCMB. Notably, limited studies examined positive emotions, which may reflect their low salience in disaster contexts. Many studies used broad or composite measures, limiting insight into specific emotional effects. The small evidence base and methodological heterogeneity point to a significant gap in the literature. The review provides insight for future research on emotional responses to natural disasters affecting populations. Further research is needed to identify discrete emotions and clarify their influence on CCMB and CCP among natural disaster victims. These insights are critical for designing targeted interventions and communication strategies among natural disaster victims.
{"title":"The role of emotional responses in climate perception and mitigation behaviour among flood victims: A systematic review","authors":"Winnie Cheah , Suzanna Awang Bono , Mageswary Karpudewan , Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102844","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102844","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flooding is a consequence of climate change that significantly affects individuals’ emotions, yet it remains unclear whether these emotional responses influence climate change perception (CCP) and climate change mitigation behaviour (CCMB). This systematic review examined the role of emotional responses in influencing CCP and CCMB among flood victims and identified which emotional responses have been explored in the literature. A comprehensive search across nine databases yielded only sixteen eligible studies, highlighting the limited research attention to this topic. Sample sizes ranged from 15 to 1137 participants, and all studies focused on individuals with flood experience. Studies were synthesised narratively following PRISMA guidelines. Despite methodological variation, the findings indicate a potential role for negative emotional responses, particularly concern, worry, fear, and helplessness, in influencing both CCP and CCMB. Notably, limited studies examined positive emotions, which may reflect their low salience in disaster contexts. Many studies used broad or composite measures, limiting insight into specific emotional effects. The small evidence base and methodological heterogeneity point to a significant gap in the literature. The review provides insight for future research on emotional responses to natural disasters affecting populations. Further research is needed to identify discrete emotions and clarify their influence on CCMB and CCP among natural disaster victims. These insights are critical for designing targeted interventions and communication strategies among natural disaster victims.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102844"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102842
Emily R. Spearing , Eryn J. Newman , Iain Walker , John Cook , Tim Kurz , Ullrich K.H. Ecker
Climate misinformation has been identified as a barrier to mitigative action. One prominent example occurred when the 2019/2020 “Black Summer” bushfires in Australia were blamed on arson. This claim is cognitively attractive because of its simplicity and was widely publicised at the time, but also thoroughly debunked. In two experiments, we examined the impact of a fictional misleading article implicating arson as the primary cause of the Black Summer fires on Australian (Exp. 1, N = 509) and Canadian (Exp. 2, N = 506) participants' reasoning, associated donation behaviour, and climate change attitudes. The misinformation significantly influenced reasoning about the Black Summer and future fires in both experiments; it also reduced the donations of Australian participants to a local climate organisation and impacted Canadian participants’ reasoning about a novel, conceptually related (but fictional) flooding event. Corrections were largely effective at mitigating misinformation impact. A bolstered correction that portrayed climate change as an important causal factor through its impact on risks and emphasised the multicausality of natural disasters was more effective than a simple correction that merely refuted the misinformation. Climate change attitudes were largely unaffected by the misinformation and interventions. Our findings demonstrate that event-specific climate misinformation can influence reasoning beyond a specific event, and that corrections are broadly useful for combatting its effects.
{"title":"Black Summer arson: Examining the impact of climate misinformation and corrections on reasoning","authors":"Emily R. Spearing , Eryn J. Newman , Iain Walker , John Cook , Tim Kurz , Ullrich K.H. Ecker","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102842","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102842","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate misinformation has been identified as a barrier to mitigative action. One prominent example occurred when the 2019/2020 “Black Summer” bushfires in Australia were blamed on arson. This claim is cognitively attractive because of its simplicity and was widely publicised at the time, but also thoroughly debunked. In two experiments, we examined the impact of a fictional misleading article implicating arson as the primary cause of the Black Summer fires on Australian (Exp. 1, <em>N</em> = 509) and Canadian (Exp. 2, <em>N</em> = 506) participants' reasoning, associated donation behaviour, and climate change attitudes. The misinformation significantly influenced reasoning about the Black Summer and future fires in both experiments; it also reduced the donations of Australian participants to a local climate organisation and impacted Canadian participants’ reasoning about a novel, conceptually related (but fictional) flooding event. Corrections were largely effective at mitigating misinformation impact. A bolstered correction that portrayed climate change as an important causal factor through its impact on risks and emphasised the multicausality of natural disasters was more effective than a simple correction that merely refuted the misinformation. Climate change attitudes were largely unaffected by the misinformation and interventions. Our findings demonstrate that event-specific climate misinformation can influence reasoning beyond a specific event, and that corrections are broadly useful for combatting its effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102842"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102840
M. Spinoni , P. Mancin , S. Cerea , C. Di Gesto , G.R. Policardo , M. Ghisi , C. Matera , A. Nerini , C. Grano
The preference for natural environments over urban settings is well-documented. The Preferences for Natural Environments Questionnaire (PNQ) is a valuable tool for evaluating preferences toward natural versus urban environments. However, its psychometric properties have not yet been explored outside of the US cultural context, and there is a lack of research on its sex invariance. This study aims to validate the PNQ in the Italian context by examining its factorial structure, convergent and incremental validity, and testing sex invariance. A sample of 582 Italian individuals (Mage = 31.7, SD = 14.8) completed an Italian-translated version of the PNQ (I-PNQ), alongside measures assessing connectedness to nature (CNS), environmental concerns (NEP-R), and nature-related behaviors and attitudes. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed a two-dimensional structure namely Preferences for Natural Environments (PNQ-N) and Preferences for Urban Environments (PNQ-U), and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed excellent fit indices. Internal reliability was good. The PNQ-N correlated significantly with the CNS and the NEP-R, while the PNQ-U negatively correlated with the CNS, providing evidence for its convergent validity. Incremental validity was established by demonstrating the significant contributions of the PNQ-N and the PNQ-U in predicting nature visitation frequency, time spent in nature, and enjoyment derived from nature, after controlling for other related constructs. The I-PNQ was found to be sex-invariant, enabling comparisons of environmental preferences between males and females. These findings support the I-PNQ as a reliable and valid tool for assessing environmental preferences, highlighting its utility in understanding nature-related behaviors and attitudes.
{"title":"Embracing nature: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the preferences for nature questionnaire","authors":"M. Spinoni , P. Mancin , S. Cerea , C. Di Gesto , G.R. Policardo , M. Ghisi , C. Matera , A. Nerini , C. Grano","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102840","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102840","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The preference for natural environments over urban settings is well-documented. The Preferences for Natural Environments Questionnaire (PNQ) is a valuable tool for evaluating preferences toward natural versus urban environments. However, its psychometric properties have not yet been explored outside of the US cultural context, and there is a lack of research on its sex invariance. This study aims to validate the PNQ in the Italian context by examining its factorial structure, convergent and incremental validity, and testing sex invariance. A sample of 582 Italian individuals (<em>M</em>age = 31.7, <em>SD</em> = 14.8) completed an Italian-translated version of the PNQ (I-PNQ), alongside measures assessing connectedness to nature (CNS), environmental concerns (NEP-R), and nature-related behaviors and attitudes. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed a two-dimensional structure namely <em>Preferences for Natural Environments</em> (PNQ-N) and <em>Preferences for Urban Environments</em> (PNQ-U), and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed excellent fit indices. Internal reliability was good. The PNQ-N correlated significantly with the CNS and the NEP-R, while the PNQ-U negatively correlated with the CNS, providing evidence for its convergent validity. Incremental validity was established by demonstrating the significant contributions of the PNQ-N and the PNQ-U in predicting nature visitation frequency, time spent in nature, and enjoyment derived from nature, after controlling for other related constructs. The I-PNQ was found to be sex-invariant, enabling comparisons of environmental preferences between males and females. These findings support the I-PNQ as a reliable and valid tool for assessing environmental preferences, highlighting its utility in understanding nature-related behaviors and attitudes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48439,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Psychology","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102840"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102843
Nanne Kukkonen , Florian Lange , Casper Van den Bossche , Ruth M. Krebs
Pro-environmental behavior is often conceptualized as a trade-off between environmental benefits and the associated costs: a person engages in a pro-environmental behavior if the value of the environmental benefit outweighs the time, effort, or money required to generate it. However, pro-environmental behavior does not occur in a vacuum: behaving pro-environmentally most often implies not engaging in competing behaviors, but the associated opportunity costs have rarely been considered in previous work. Here, we study pro-environmental behavior as an effort-based decision-making process to better understand how pro-environmental behavior is shaped by the costs and benefits of competing behavioral options. In two studies (N = 115 & N = 255), participants were asked to choose between exerting effort to obtain monetary rewards either for themselves or for the environment. By manipulating reward magnitude and effort level of each option orthogonally, we found that smaller environmental rewards led to increased effort discounting, that is, the level of effort affected decisions more at low levels of environmental reward. This effect was especially strong when the alternative (self-benefiting) option was effortful and/or carried low incentive value, suggesting that the effort related to pro-environmental behavior is most relevant at low opportunity cost.
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