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Unleashing the Power of Connection: How Adolescents’ Prosocial Propensity Drives Ecological and Altruistic Behaviours

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Listed:
  • Alexander Neaman

    (Departamento de Recursos Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000000, Chile)

  • Eiliana Montero

    (Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica)

  • Pamela Pensini

    (School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia)

  • Elliot Burnham

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Mónica Castro

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Dmitry S. Ermakov

    (Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117198, Russia)

  • Claudia Navarro-Villarroel

    (Área de Educación, Instituto de Estadística, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile)

Abstract

Both altruistic and ecological behaviours are considered prosocially driven behaviours, but our understanding of what motivates action in either the human or ecological domain is still in its infancy. Our goal was to assess connection to nature, connection to people, and connection to country as mediators of the relationship between prosocial propensity and prosocial behaviours in both the ecological and human domains. This study used honesty-humility as an indicator of prosocial propensity. Data for the study were collected through online surveys in Spanish. The survey was answered by 438 adolescent participants aged 11–19 years. The present study demonstrates that personal prosocial propensity can be directed to a particular domain of prosocial behaviour (ecological or altruistic) through the individual’s connection to the relevant domain. Specifically, the effect of prosocial propensity on ecological behaviour was positively mediated by connection to people and connection to nature, but negatively mediated by connection to country. For altruistic behaviour, the effect of prosocial propensity was positive via connection to people, nature, and country. Future research is called for, in particular, to examine the role of connection to country in ecological behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Neaman & Eiliana Montero & Pamela Pensini & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2023. "Unleashing the Power of Connection: How Adolescents’ Prosocial Propensity Drives Ecological and Altruistic Behaviours," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8070-:d:1147973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander Neaman & Pamela Pensini & Sarah Zabel & Siegmar Otto & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Elvira A. Dovletyarova & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2022. "The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, April.
    2. César Tapia-Fonllem & Victor Corral-Verdugo & Blanca Fraijo-Sing & Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos, 2013. "Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Alexander Neaman & Siegmar Otto & Eli Vinokur, 2018. "Toward an Integrated Approach to Environmental and Prosocial Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-11, February.
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