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Transmitting pro‐environmental behaviours to the next generation: A comparison between G ermany and J apan
Author(s) -
Ando Kaori,
Yorifuji Kayo,
Ohnuma Susumu,
Matthies Ellen,
Kanbara Ayumi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asian journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-839X
pISSN - 1367-2223
DOI - 10.1111/ajsp.12078
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , structural equation modeling , norm (philosophy) , statistics , mathematics , political science , law
The present study examined the processes by which children acquire pro‐environmental behaviours in different cultures. Our focus was on parental influence. Several studies have been conducted on adults' environmental behaviours; however, we know little about how children's environmental attitudes and behaviours are formed. We conducted a questionnaire survey with elementary school children and one of their parents in G ermany and J apan. Two hundred and twenty‐one pairs participated in G ermany and 365 in J apan. The results of structural equation modelling showed that parents' behaviours affected children's environmental behaviours directly and also via the subjective norm (the children's experienced expectations of their parents). A comparison of the two countries revealed that hypothesized cultural differences between the impact of personal norms and subjective norms were clearer for adults. The results also showed that the effects of subjective norms were stronger for children, indicating that children are more likely to be influenced by expectations of others. The results of the study suggest that for promoting children's environmental behaviours, showing the behaviours in daily life would be most effective.