An Investigation on Cynicism and Environmental Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Pro-Environmental Behavior

Abstract

Environmental problem is one of the biggest problems that threatens human life. Human behavior has long been known to play an important role in maintaining and improving environmental sustainability. Psychological studies investigating predictors of pro-environmental behavior have been carried out, but no studies link it with cynicism and self-efficacy simultaneously. This study design was predictive correlational and data analysis technique employed was multiple linear regression analysis. Participants of this study were 205 undergraduate students in Jakarta (132 males, 73 females; Mage = 19.68 years old; SDage = 0.849 years) taken using convenience sampling technique. This study found that cynicism and environmental self-efficacy are able to predict proenvironmental behavior in positive directions. This study suggests revising the measurement instrument of cynicism.

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Abraham, J. , Pane, M. & Chairiyani, R. (2015). An Investigation on Cynicism and Environmental Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Pro-Environmental Behavior. Psychology, 6, 234-242. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.63023.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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