Students' Understanding of Environmental Problems: Their Response to the Environmental Appraisal Inventory

Abstract

  In order to promote more pro-environmental behavior, it is important to understand its underlying attitudinal factors. In this study, we analyzed university students' understanding of environmental problems by administering the Japanese version of the Environmental Appraisal Inventory (EAI-J). It considers 28 environmental problems and 9 appraisal scales. All the scales showed high reliability. A factor analysis revealed three independent factors, representing the EAI's original three scales (threats to self, threats to the environment, and personal control in the face of environmental problems). The EAI has excellent factorial validity. Multiple regression analysis revealed a fourth scale, altering lifestyle, that measures willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. This scale was successfully predicted from the threat to environment and personal control scales. We applied factor analysis to the original three scales separately, and examined their sub-structures. Two common factors appeared: global change and natural disasters. In addition, daily-life pollution appeared as a third unique factor of the personal control scale. Enhancing the sense of personal control to cope with environmental problems and deepening the awareness of lifestyle change were discussed as important environmental education issues.