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Spreading the Eco-Message: Using Proactive Coping to Aid Eco-Rep Behavior Change Programming

Author

Listed:
  • Brittany Bloodhart

    (Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA)

  • Janet K. Swim

    (Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Psychology, 251 Moore Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA)

  • Matthew J. Zawadzki

    (Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA)

Abstract

Making pro-environmental behavior changes can be difficult, particularly when these changes challenge daily routines and comfortable lifestyles. We designed and implemented an eco-representative intervention program to help students reduce their energy use by proactively coping with barriers to pro-environmental behavior change, and then communicate effective behavior change strategies to student peers. Twenty-nine first-year college students participated in a four-week proactive coping training to change five environmentally impactful behaviors and then spread behavior change messages to fellow residents during a two-week energy challenge. Eco-reps successfully changed their own behaviors in a pro-environmental direction by generating important barriers and successful facilitators for behavior change, and eco-rep residence halls were more likely to reduce energy and maintain reductions compared to non-eco-rep halls. Implications for future environmental behavior change interventions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Brittany Bloodhart & Janet K. Swim & Matthew J. Zawadzki, 2013. "Spreading the Eco-Message: Using Proactive Coping to Aid Eco-Rep Behavior Change Programming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-19, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:4:p:1661-1679:d:25101
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Delley, Mathilde & Brunner, Thomas A., 2017. "Foodwaste within Swiss households: A segmentation of the population and suggestions for preventive measures," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 172-184.
    2. Erin Miller Hamilton & Apoorva Rane, 2022. "Speaking Their Language: Does Environmental Signage Align to Personal Dimensions of Environmentally Responsible Behavior in Undergraduate Residence Halls?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Susan M. Koger, 2013. "Psychological and Behavioral Aspects of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-3, July.

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