Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) is crucial for addressing global ecological threats, yet cultural factors are often overlooked in research on its determinants. This research explored the impact of cultural tightness–looseness on PEB, focusing on the mediating roles of the ascription of responsibility and personal norms, and the moderating role of environmental threats. In Study 1, we conducted both a measurement (Study 1a) and a manipulation (Study 1b) of cultural tightness–looseness and found that tight cultures effectively promote PEB. In Study 2, we tested the moderated mediation model, which revealed that the ascription of responsibility and personal norms, along with their chain effects, mediated the impact of cultural tightness–looseness on PEB. Environmental threats positively moderated the direct effect, with tight cultures predicting more PEB only under high–threat conditions. This study suggests that cultural tightness may have evolutionary benefits for promoting PEB. Practically, it reveals that promoting a tighter culture, coupled with messaging about environmental threats, may be more effective in encouraging PEB.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su17219785
Authors: Jie Leng, Xuegang Zheng, Xinyu Xu, Ping Hu
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4415823619