IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i12p3237-d239076.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pro-Environmental Behaviours and Value-Belief-Norm Theory: Assessing Unobserved Heterogeneity of Two Ethnic Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Ezlika M. Ghazali

    (Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    University of Malaya Halal Research Centre (UMHRC), University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Bang Nguyen

    (Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management, University of Southern Denmark, Universitetsparken 1, 6000 Kolding, Denmark)

  • Dilip S. Mutum

    (Nottingham University Business School, The University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia
    Mindset Research Centre, The University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Su-Fei Yap

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

Abstract

Previous environmental sustainability studies have examined only limited type of pro-environmental behaviour (PEB; e.g., recycling), but have not explored relationships among various types or dimensions of PEBs. This paper explores six types of PEBs (i.e., activist, avoider, green consumer, green passenger, recycler and utility saver) and investigates their antecedents and interrelationships between two ethnic groups—Malays and Chinese in Malaysia. Survey data from 581 respondents, comprising 307 Malays and 274 Chinese, were used to assess the research model. To conduct multi-group analysis, the study used partial least squares structural equation modelling in SmartPLS 3. The study extends the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory by using social norms to predict PEBs. The results suggest that social norms predict each type of PEB, in contrast to other constructs in VBN theory, except for utility-saving behaviours. The findings also reveal some similarities as well as differences between Malays and Chinese, indicating that the two ethnic groups are not homogeneous. The study is the first to simultaneously study six types of PEB and to examine the differences between Malays and Chinese on PEB constructs and offers a valuable contribution to the literature by extending VBN theory to social norms and PEB.

Suggested Citation

  • Ezlika M. Ghazali & Bang Nguyen & Dilip S. Mutum & Su-Fei Yap, 2019. "Pro-Environmental Behaviours and Value-Belief-Norm Theory: Assessing Unobserved Heterogeneity of Two Ethnic Groups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-28, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3237-:d:239076
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/12/3237/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/12/3237/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ghazali, Ezlika & Soon, Pat Chen & Mutum, Dilip S. & Nguyen, Bang, 2017. "Health and cosmetics: Investigating consumers’ values for buying organic personal care products," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 154-163.
    2. Huang, Huiping, 2016. "Media use, environmental beliefs, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 2206-2212.
    3. Yadav, Rambalak & Pathak, Govind S., 2017. "Determinants of Consumers' Green Purchase Behavior in a Developing Nation: Applying and Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 114-122.
    4. Camelia Delcea & Liviu-Adrian Cotfas & Carmen Lenuța Trică & Liliana Crăciun & Anca Gabriela Molanescu, 2019. "Modeling the Consumers Opinion Influence in Online Social Media in the Case of Eco-friendly Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    6. Kumar, Bipul & Manrai, Ajay K. & Manrai, Lalita A., 2017. "Purchasing behaviour for environmentally sustainable products: A conceptual framework and empirical study," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 1-9.
    7. Yadav, Rambalak, 2016. "Altruistic or egoistic: Which value promotes organic food consumption among young consumers? A study in the context of a developing nation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 92-97.
    8. Roberts, James A., 1996. "Green Consumers in the 1990s: Profile and Implications for Advertising," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 217-231, July.
    9. Gleim, Mark R. & Smith, Jeffery S. & Andrews, Demetra & Cronin, J. Joseph, 2013. "Against the Green: A Multi-method Examination of the Barriers to Green Consumption," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 44-61.
    10. Han, Heesup, 2015. "Travelers' pro-environmental behavior in a green lodging context: Converging value-belief-norm theory and the theory of planned behavior," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 164-177.
    11. Kalamas, Maria & Cleveland, Mark & Laroche, Michel, 2014. "Pro-environmental behaviors for thee but not for me: Green giants, green Gods, and external environmental locus of control," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 12-22.
    12. Md. Rashid & Saidatul Ibrahim, 2008. "The Effect of Culture and Religiosity on Business Ethics: A Cross-cultural Comparison," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 82(4), pages 907-917, November.
    13. Onwezen, Marleen C. & Antonides, Gerrit & Bartels, Jos, 2013. "The Norm Activation Model: An exploration of the functions of anticipated pride and guilt in pro-environmental behaviour," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 141-153.
    14. Yan Yang & Jing Hu & Fengjie Jing & Bang Nguyen, 2018. "From Awe to Ecological Behavior: The Mediating Role of Connectedness to Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
    15. Md. Nor Othman & Ezlika Ghazali & Ong Chee Cheng, 2005. "Demographics and personal characteristics of urban Malaysian entrepreneurs: an ethnic comparison," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(5/6), pages 421-440.
    16. Reinartz, Werner & Haenlein, Michael & Henseler, Jörg, 2009. "An empirical comparison of the efficacy of covariance-based and variance-based SEM," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 332-344.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhihui Wang & Liangzhen Nie & Eila Jeronen & Lihua Xu & Meiai Chen, 2023. "Understanding the Environmentally Sustainable Behavior of Chinese University Students as Tourists: An Integrative Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Mohd Sadiq & Mohd Adil & Justin Paul, 2021. "Does social influence turn pessimistic consumers green?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 2937-2950, November.
    3. Nika Hein, 2022. "Factors Influencing the Purchase Intention for Recycled Products: Integrating Perceived Risk into Value-Belief-Norm Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Danuta Miłaszewicz, 2022. "Survey Results on Using Nudges for Choice of Green-Energy Supplier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Wan Afin Fadzlin & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim & Norridah Amin & Zafar Said, 2022. "Global Challenges of Current Building-Integrated Solar Water Heating Technologies and Its Prospects: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-42, July.
    6. Phu Nguyen-Van & Anne Stenger & Tuyen Tiet, 2021. "Social incentive factors in interventions promoting sustainable behaviors: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-27, December.
    7. Fatin Aliah Phang & Anis Nadirah Roslan & Zainul Akmar Zakaria & Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini & Jaysuman Pusppanathan & Corrienna Abdul Talib, 2022. "Environmental Awareness in Batik Making Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Song, Jiawen & Cai, Lanhui & Yuen, Kum Fai & Wang, Xueqin, 2023. "Exploring consumers’ usage intention of reusable express packaging: An extended norm activation model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Jelena Ristić Trajković & Aleksandra Milovanović & Ana Nikezić, 2021. "Reprogramming Modernist Heritage: Enhancing Social Wellbeing by Value-Based Programming Approach in Architectural Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-30, October.
    10. Elsie Nasr & Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani & Souha Al-Geitany, 2022. "Destination Social Responsibility and Residents’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Assessing the Mediating Role of Community Attachment and Involvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, October.
    11. Athina Economou & George Halkos, 2020. "The Gender Environmentalism Gap in Germany and the Netherlands," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(3), pages 1038-1055, May.
    12. Donatella Porrini & Francesco Masi, 2021. "Managing climate change risk: the case of the Italian Churches," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(3), pages 2619-2637, February.
    13. Farzana Sharmin & Mohammad Tipu Sultan & Alina Badulescu & Dorin Paul Bac & Benqian Li, 2020. "Millennial Tourists’ Environmentally Sustainable Behavior Towards a Natural Protected Area: An Integrative Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-24, October.
    14. Leila Aghlimoghadam & Sadegh Salehi & Hans-Liudger Dienel, 2022. "A Contribution to Social Acceptance of PV in an Oil-Rich Country: Reflections on Governmental Organisations in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    15. Diego Casado-Mansilla & Apostolos C. Tsolakis & Cruz E. Borges & Oihane Kamara-Esteban & Stelios Krinidis & Jose Manuel Avila & Dimitrios Tzovaras & Diego López-de-Ipiña, 2020. "Socio-Economic Effect on ICT-Based Persuasive Interventions Towards Energy Efficiency in Tertiary Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, April.
    16. Wu Li & Shengchuan Zhao & Jingwen Ma & Wenwen Qin, 2021. "Investigating Regional and Generational Heterogeneity in Low-Carbon Travel Behavior Intention Based on a PLS-SEM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    17. Brock Ternes, 2019. "Are Well Owners Unique Environmentalists? An Exploration of Rural Water Supply Infrastructure, Conservation Routines, and Moderation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-14, September.
    18. Julia Morgan & Casey Canfield, 2021. "Comparing Behavioral Theories to Predict Consumer Interest to Participate in Energy Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    19. Huatao Peng & Bingbing Li & Chen Zhou & Bert M. Sadowski, 2021. "How Does the Appeal of Environmental Values Influence Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-25, January.
    20. Diana Puspita Sari & Nur Aini Masruroh & Anna Maria Sri Asih, 2021. "Consumer Intention to Participate in E-Waste Collection Programs: A Study of Smartphone Waste in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-28, March.
    21. Wan Nur Hafizah Wan Hussain & Lilia Halim & Mee Yeang Chan & Norshariani Abd Rahman, 2021. "Predicting Energy-Saving Behaviour Based on Environmental Values: An Analysis of School Children’s Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
    22. Xintian Wang & Zhangchi Wang & Yan Li, 2022. "Internet Use on Closing Intention–Behavior Gap in Green Consumption—A Mediation and Moderation Theoretical Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, December.
    23. Xumin Zhang & Hayk Khachatryan, 2023. "Does the Perceived Effectiveness of Voluntary Conservation Programs Affect Household Adoption of Sustainable Landscaping Practices?," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, July.
    24. Syed Shah Alam & Maisarah Ahmad & Yi-Hui Ho & Nor Asiah Omar & Chieh-Yu Lin, 2020. "Applying an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Sustainable Food Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-14, October.
    25. Claudia Arias & Jhon Mario Quiroga Beltrán & Javier Mauricio Martínez Ariza & Javier Bernardo Cadena Lozano & Miguel Angel Bello Bernal, 2022. "Pro-Circular Consumer Profile: An Approach to Their Identification and Characterization Based on the Components of the Value-Belief-Norm Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-36, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alzubaidi, Hawazin & Slade, Emma L. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K., 2021. "Examining antecedents of consumers’ pro-environmental behaviours: TPB extended with materialism and innovativeness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 685-699.
    2. Haj-Salem, Narjes & Ishaq, Muhammad Ishtiaq & Raza, Ali, 2022. "How anticipated pride and guilt influence green consumption in the Middle East: The moderating role of environmental consciousness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Odou, Philippe & Schill, Marie, 2020. "How anticipated emotions shape behavioral intentions to fight climate change," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 243-253.
    4. Xiaojian Hu & Nan Wu & Nuo Chen, 2021. "Young People’s Behavioral Intentions towards Low-Carbon Travel: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Francesco Testa & Gaia Pretner & Roberta Iovino & Guia Bianchi & Sara Tessitore & Fabio Iraldo, 2021. "Drivers to green consumption: a systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4826-4880, April.
    6. Philippe Odou & Marie Schill, 2020. "How anticipated emotions shape behavioral intentions to fight climate change," Post-Print hal-02929920, HAL.
    7. Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi, 2022. "Examining Drivers of Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behavior: Theory of Planned Behavior Extended with Cultural Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Lin Shen & Hongyun Si & Lei Yu & Haolun Si, 2019. "Factors Influencing Young People’s Intention toward Municipal Solid Waste Sorting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Jana Hojnik & Mitja Ruzzier & Tatiana S. Manolova, 2020. "Sustainable development: Predictors of green consumerism in Slovenia," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1695-1708, July.
    10. Jana Hojnik & Mitja Ruzzier & Maja Konečnik Ruzzier, 2019. "Transition towards Sustainability: Adoption of Eco-Products among Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-29, August.
    11. Saeid Karimi & Genovaitė Liobikienė & Heshmatollah Saadi & Fatemeh Sepahvand, 2021. "The Influence of Media Usage on Iranian Students’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: An Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, July.
    12. Hajiheydari, Nastaran & Delgosha, Mohammad Soltani, 2023. "Citizens' support in social mission platforms: Unravelling configurations for participating in civic crowdfunding platforms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    13. Han, Heesup & Hyun, Sunghyup Sean, 2018. "What influences water conservation and towel reuse practices of hotel guests?," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 87-97.
    14. Jaiswal, Deepak & Kant, Rishi, 2018. "Green purchasing behaviour: A conceptual framework and empirical investigation of Indian consumers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 60-69.
    15. Maria Rodrigues & João F. Proença & Rita Macedo, 2023. "Determinants of the Purchase of Secondhand Products: An Approach by the Theory of Planned Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    16. Nik Masdek Nik Rozana & Wong Kelly Kai Seng & Mohd Nawi Nolila & Sharifuddin Juwaidah & Wong Wang Li, 2023. "Antecedents of sustainable food waste management behaviour: Empirical evidence from urban households in Malaysia," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 53-77, March.
    17. Genovaitė Liobikienė & Mykolas Simas Poškus, 2019. "The Importance of Environmental Knowledge for Private and Public Sphere Pro-Environmental Behavior: Modifying the Value-Belief-Norm Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, June.
    18. Montserrat Boronat-Navarro & José A. Pérez-Aranda, 2020. "Analyzing Willingness to Pay More to Stay in a Sustainable Hotel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Paolo Antonetti & Stan Maklan, 2014. "Feelings that Make a Difference: How Guilt and Pride Convince Consumers of the Effectiveness of Sustainable Consumption Choices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 117-134, September.
    20. Bin Wang & Jionghua Li & Ao Sun & Yongming Wang & Dianting Wu, 2019. "Residents’ Green Purchasing Intentions in a Developing-Country Context: Integrating PLS-SEM and MGA Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3237-:d:239076. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.