TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessing the structure of UK environmental concern and its association with pro-environmental behaviour

AU - Rhead, Rebecca

AU - Elliot, Mark

AU - Upham, Paul

PY - 2015/9/1

Y1 - 2015/9/1

N2 - Understanding the structure and composition of environmental concern is crucial to the study of society's engagement with environmental problems. Here, we aim to determine if components of the VBN model emerge when applying a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to a large UK dataset, one designed without a priori commitment to a theoretical model. A three-factor model was confirmed to be the most substantively and methodologically optimal. Two of the factors correspond to the VBN's ecocentric and anthropocentric factors. However, the third factor does not routinely map onto the third factor of the VBN (ecocentric concern). We have called our factor 'denial', as high scorers tend to be responding positively to statements that would suggest inaction. The association between these factors and level of reported pro-environmental behaviour is assessed.

AB - Understanding the structure and composition of environmental concern is crucial to the study of society's engagement with environmental problems. Here, we aim to determine if components of the VBN model emerge when applying a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to a large UK dataset, one designed without a priori commitment to a theoretical model. A three-factor model was confirmed to be the most substantively and methodologically optimal. Two of the factors correspond to the VBN's ecocentric and anthropocentric factors. However, the third factor does not routinely map onto the third factor of the VBN (ecocentric concern). We have called our factor 'denial', as high scorers tend to be responding positively to statements that would suggest inaction. The association between these factors and level of reported pro-environmental behaviour is assessed.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Environmental concern

KW - Factor analysis

KW - Attitudes

KW - Values

KW - VBN

KW - Behaviour

KW - Denial

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84934272484&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.06.002

DO - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.06.002

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84934272484

VL - 43

SP - 175

EP - 183

JO - Journal of Environmental Psychology

JF - Journal of Environmental Psychology

SN - 0272-4944

ER -