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Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors about Cigarette-Butt Littering among College-Aged Adults in the United States

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  • Thomas Webler

    (Department of Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Geography, Keene State College, Keene, NH 03435, USA)

  • Karin Jakubowski

    (Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA)

Abstract

This study reports attitudes, beliefs, and littering behaviors of 7532 college-aged cigarette smokers from across the United States. Four behavioral variables were measured: littering of last cigarette butt, number of butts littered in past 24 h, littering in past month, and ever having littered. Questions about beliefs centered on whether cigarette butts are biodegradable, if butts were harmful to the environment, and if butts are considered to be litter. One attitudinal question focused on whether seeing butts on the ground was bothersome. Littering was most likely among people who believed butts were biodegradable, believed they are not harmful to the environment, do not believe butts are litter, and among those with the attitude that littered butts are not bothersome. Logistic regression analyses found that the strongest influence on littering behavior was the attitude that seeing butts was bothersome. The second-strongest driver was the belief that butts are litter.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Webler & Karin Jakubowski, 2022. "Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors about Cigarette-Butt Littering among College-Aged Adults in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:8085-:d:853643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elena Simina Lakatos & Lucian Ionel Cioca & Andrea Szilagyi & Andreea Loredana Bîrgovan & Elena Cristina Rada, 2023. "Smokers’ Attitude and Behavior towards Cigarette Littering in Romania: A Survey-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-10, August.

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