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Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Determinants and Obstacles among Italian University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Annalaura Carducci

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Maria Fiore

    (Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Antonio Azara

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Padre Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Guglielmo Bonaccorsi

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Martina Bortoletto

    (AZIENDA ULSS 6 EUGANEA, Servizio di Prevenzione, Igiene e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPISAL), Via Ospedale 22, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Giuseppina Caggiano

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Andrea Calamusa

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Antonella De Donno

    (Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Osvalda De Giglio

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Marco Dettori

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Padre Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Pamela Di Giovanni

    (Department of Pharmacy, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Angela Di Pietro

    (Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino”, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100 Messina, Italy)

  • Alessio Facciolà

    (Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino”, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100 Messina, Italy)

  • Ileana Federigi

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Iolanda Grappasonni

    (School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy)

  • Alberto Izzotti

    (Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Via Antonio Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy)

  • Giovanni Libralato

    (Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy)

  • Chiara Lorini

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Maria Teresa Montagna

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Liberata Keti Nicolosi

    (Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Grazia Paladino

    (Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Giacomo Palomba

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Fabio Petrelli

    (School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy)

  • Tiziana Schilirò

    (Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Stefania Scuri

    (School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy)

  • Francesca Serio

    (Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Marina Tesauro

    (Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Marco Verani

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Marco Vinceti

    (Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
    Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Federica Violi

    (Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy)

  • Margherita Ferrante

    (Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The awareness of citizens concerning the health risks caused by environmental pollution is growing, but studies on determinants of pro-environmental behaviors have rarely examined health-related aspects. In this study, we investigated these determinants using data from a large survey among Italian university students (15 Universities: 4778 filled questionnaires). Besides the health-related aspects, represented by environmental health risk perception and functional health literacy, we considered social and demographic characteristics (gender, area of residence, sources of information, trust in institutional and non-institutional subjects, and students’ capacity of positive actions, indicated as internal locus of control). The attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors were positive for more than 70% of students and positively related with health risk perception, internal locus of control, and health literacy. The correspondence between the positive attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors and the real adoption of such behaviors was approximately 20% for most behaviors, except for the separate collection of waste (60%). Such a discrepancy can be attributable to external obstacles (i.e., lack of time, costs, lack of support). The health-related aspects were linked to the pro-environmental attitudes, but to a lesser extent to pro-environmental behaviors, owing to the complexity of their determinants. However, they should be taken in account in planning education interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Annalaura Carducci & Maria Fiore & Antonio Azara & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi & Martina Bortoletto & Giuseppina Caggiano & Andrea Calamusa & Antonella De Donno & Osvalda De Giglio & Marco Dettori & Pamela D, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Determinants and Obstacles among Italian University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3306-:d:522430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shan Gao & Weimin Li & Shuang Ling & Xin Dou & Xiaozhou Liu, 2019. "An Empirical Study on the Influence Path of Environmental Risk Perception on Behavioral Responses In China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-18, August.
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    4. Kathleen M. Gray, 2018. "From Content Knowledge to Community Change: A Review of Representations of Environmental Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, March.
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    2. Elisabeth Pfleger & Hans Drexler & Regina Lutz, 2024. "Health Literacy and Environmental Risks Focusing Air Pollution: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-19, March.
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