From Values to Action: The Roles of Green Self-Identity, Self-Efficacy, and Eco-Anxiety in Predicting Pro-Environmental Behaviours in the Italian Context

Raffaele Pasquariello, Anna Rosa Donizzetti (), Cristina Curcio, Miriam Capasso and Daniela Caso
Additional contact information
Raffaele Pasquariello: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
Anna Rosa Donizzetti: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
Cristina Curcio: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
Miriam Capasso: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
Daniela Caso: Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Background : Human activity is recognised as a major contributor to changes in Earth’s climate, land surface, oceans, ecosystems, and biodiversity. These alterations are largely due to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, mass pollution, and land degradation. In light of these environmental challenges, examining the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behaviour has become increasingly important. Study’s Aim : To provide a comprehensive model evaluating the structural relationships among biospheric values, green self-identity, green self-efficacy, and eco-anxiety to investigate the underlying mechanisms relating to the adoption of various pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). Methods : An online self-report questionnaire was completed by 510 Italian participants (aged 18–55, M = 35.18, SD = 12.58) between November and December 2023. Data analysis was performed using R statistical software, employing Structural Equation Modelling. Results : The results indicate that eco-anxiety, green self-efficacy, and green self-identity are significant positive predictors of PEBs. Furthermore, green self-identity significantly influences eco-anxiety and green self-efficacy, while biospheric values are a major trigger for both green self-efficacy and green self-identity, but not for eco-anxiety. Conclusions : These findings suggest that while eco-anxiety can be an adaptive motivator for PEBs, biospheric values foster a green self-identity and self-efficacy, which in turn drive pro-environmental actions. The study concludes that encouraging biospheric values and strong green self-identity is crucial for promoting sustainable behaviours.

Keywords: pro-environmental behaviours; eco-anxiety; biospheric values; green self-identity; green self-efficacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6838/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6838/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6838-:d:1711407

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().