Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Evaluation of the Environmental Attitudes Inventory-24 (EAI-24) in a Sample of Spanish University Students
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the 24-item Environmental Attitudes Inventory (EAI-24) in Spanish university students. The Preservation dimension reflects an orientation towards environmental protection; Utilization reflects beliefs about the legitimacy of using and controlling nature. A convenience sample of 270 University of Cádiz students completed the Spanish EAI-24 and self-report measures of behaviours related to caring for nature and using natural resources as health assets. Adaptation followed international guidelines. Internal consistency and test–retest analyses assessed reliability; exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined structure, and regressions evaluated criterion-related validity. Internal consistency was satisfactory for the overall score and Preservation but more modest for Utilization; temporal stability was generally satisfactory. Confirmatory factor analysis provided partial support for the proposed structure, with some incremental fit indices below recommended thresholds. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a partial reorganisation within Preservation and broadly reproduced the original Utilization structure. Preservation showed stronger and more consistent associations with behavioural indicators than Utilization and, in several analyses, than the overall EAI-24 score. These findings offer initial evidence of reliability and validity, but factorial discrepancies and low internal consistency of some two-item subscales warrant investigation in more diverse samples.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su182111033
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: W7224800727