Analysing the Environmental Values and Attitudes of Rural Nepalese Children by Validating the 2-MEV Model

Shakil Regmi, Bruce Johnson and Bed Mani Dahal
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Shakil Regmi: C/O Lindner, Didaktik der Biologie, Biologicum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 10, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
Bruce Johnson: College of Education, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210069, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Bed Mani Dahal: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, P.O. Box 6250, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: The Two-dimensional Model of Ecological Values (2-MEV), developed and verified in Western Europe, successfully explores the environmental values and attitudes of the children (11−16 years old) using questionnaires/items. However, the reliability of the 2-MEV Scale and its bi-dimensionality in a non-industrialised country, such as Nepal, is unexplored. Nepal lies within the monsoon region, which triggers extreme environmental crises such as floods. As environmental values and attitudes are related to pro-environmental/adaptive behaviour, this study analyses not only the values and attitudes of children but also the validity of the 2-MEV Scale in a different geographic and socioeconomic setting. Therefore, the items of the 2-MEV Scale were modified, translated, and validated in two rounds with 200 and 201 children. Results were examined using principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. The findings validated the two constructs of environmental values (Preservation and Utilisation) with a correlation of −0.93, but the attitude’s pattern varied from that found in industrialised countries. Finally, the rural Nepalese version of the 2-MEV was used to measure environmental values. Most children (78.62% from n = 379) show an inclination towards Preservation, 0.26% towards Utilisation, 20.05% towards both values partially, and 1.05% were neutral. In general, the children held pro-environmental values and attitudes.

Keywords: environmental attitude; environmental values; 2-MEV model; rural Nepal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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