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Investigating Rural Domestic Waste Sorting Intentions Based on an Integrative Framework of Planned Behavior Theory and Normative Activation Models: Evidence from Guanzhong Basin, China

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Shen

    (College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Donghui Zheng

    (College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Xiaoning Zhang

    (College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Mei Qu

    (College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China)

Abstract

The sorting of domestic waste is the most effective way to alleviate the problem of mass garbage accumulation around the villages of rural China. Farmers are the creators of rural domestic waste as well as the direct beneficiaries of effective waste management. However, few studies have been conducted on the psychological determinants of farmers’ intentions to sort domestic waste. This paper applies planned behavior theory (TPB) and normative activation theory (NAM), to analyze the domestic waste sorting intentions of rural residents in Guanzhong, China. Based on the micro-data of 327 rural households in Guanzhong, structural equation models of the factors influencing farmers’ domestic waste sorting intentions were estimated. The results demonstrate the following. (1) Farmers’ attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and personal norms have significant positive direct impacts on their domestic waste sorting intentions, with personal norms having the greatest direct impact. (2) Subjective norms have no direct impact on farmers’ domestic waste sorting intentions but do have an indirect impact on them through personal norms, behavioral attitudes, and perceived behavior control. This article increases scholarly understanding of the psychosocial determinants of the environmentally friendly behavioral intention to sort domestic waste. The study also provides academic and theoretical support to policy makers in implementing relevant policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Shen & Donghui Zheng & Xiaoning Zhang & Mei Qu, 2020. "Investigating Rural Domestic Waste Sorting Intentions Based on an Integrative Framework of Planned Behavior Theory and Normative Activation Models: Evidence from Guanzhong Basin, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4887-:d:381245
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    1. Lee, Stacy H.N. & Chang, Hyo Jung (Julie) & Zhao, Li, 2023. "The importance of personal norms and situational expectancies to sustainable behaviors: The norm activation and situational expectancy-value theories," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    2. Saman Attiq & Amanda M. Y. Chu & Rauf I. Azam & Wing-Keung Wong & Sumia Mumtaz, 2021. "Antecedents of Consumer Food Waste Reduction Behavior: Psychological and Financial Concerns through the Lens of the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Haibo Ruan & Jun Chen & Chao Wang & Wendong Xu & Jiayi Tang, 2022. "Social Network, Sense of Responsibility, and Resident Participation in China’s Rural Environmental Governance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Asamoah, Ama Nyarko & Nketiah, Emmanuel & Obuobi, Bright & Adjei, Mavis & Cudjoe, Dan & Zhu, Bangzhu, 2023. "Reducing waste management challenges: Empirical assessment of waste sorting intention among corporate employees in Ghana," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. Xuxi Wang & Jing Tan, 2022. "The Perception and Attitude of Farmers toward Domestic Waste Classifications: A Case Study on Wusheng County, Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Sumia Mumtaz & Amanda M. Y. Chu & Saman Attiq & Hassan Jalil Shah & Wing-Keung Wong, 2022. "Habit—Does It Matter? Bringing Habit and Emotion into the Development of Consumer’s Food Waste Reduction Behavior with the Lens of the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-24, May.
    7. Jihong Zeng & Yongliang Mao & Minyue Xu & Bei Jian & Mei Qu, 2022. "Exploring the Effect of Individual and Group Level Factors on the Level of Rural Residents’ Domestic Waste Sorting: Evidence from Shaanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Shiyao Zhou & Chen Qing & Shili Guo & Xin Deng & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "Why “Say One Thing and Do Another” a Study on the Contradiction between Farmers’ Intention and Behavior of Garbage Classification," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, August.
    9. Wei Li & Si Chen & Zhihao Wang & Guomin Li & Xiaoguang Liu, 2022. "The Influence of Message Framing on Residents’ Waste Separation Willingness—The Mediating Role of Moral Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Baihui Jin & Wei Li, 2023. "External Factors Impacting Residents’ Participation in Waste Sorting Using NCA and fsQCA Methods on Pilot Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-21, February.
    11. Hang Yin & Yixiong Huang & Kuiming Wang, 2021. "How Do Environmental Concerns and Governance Performance Affect Public Environmental Participation: A Case Study of Waste Sorting in Urban China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    12. Ma, Jun & Gao, Huixian & Cheng, Changgao & Fang, Zhou & Zhou, Qin & Zhou, Haiwei, 2023. "What influences the behavior of farmers' participation in agricultural nonpoint source pollution control?—Evidence from a farmer survey in Huai'an, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

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