The relationship between biospheric values and pro-environmental behavior: The role of environmental self-identity and environmental concern

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Today’s youth is facing environmental changes. The environmental behavior of adolescents is critical to mitigating the negative impacts of these environmental problems. OBJECTIVE: According to value – basis theory and Value-Belief-Norm theory, the current research examines the link between biospheric values and pro-environmental behavior, together with the mediating and moderating effects of environmental self-identity and environmental concern. METHODS: We conducted cluster sampling of students in grades four to nine. A total of 1,053 students participated in the survey, and 763 valid data records were finally obtained (the return rate was 72.46%). RESULTS: The findings indicated that: (1) there was a significant positive correlation between adolescents’ biospheric values and pro-environmental behavior; (2) there was a significant positive correlation between adolescent biospheric values and environmental self-identity; there was a significant correlation between adolescents’ environmental self-identity and pro-environmental behavior. The relationship between biospheric values and adolescents’ pro-environmental behavior is mediated by environmental self-identity; (3) adolescents’ environmental concern moderates their biospheric values and affects the latter half of pro-environmental behavior through environmental self-identity. Environmental self-identity has a greater predictive impact on pro-environmental behavior when there is a higher level of environmental concern. CONCLUSIONS: This paper proposes and verifies the positive relationship between biospheric values and adolescents’ pro-environmental behavior, as well as the mediating role of environmental self-identity and the moderating role of adolescents’ environmental concern.