Water Conservation and Environmental Sustainability from a Community Clinical Psychological Perspective

Andrea Caputo, Manuela Tomai, Elpiniki Pomoni, Hilda Cecilia Méndez, Bartolo Atilio Castellanos, on behalf of the “Agua Futura” Consortium and Viviana Langher
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Andrea Caputo: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Manuela Tomai: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Elpiniki Pomoni: Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Hilda Cecilia Méndez: Faculty of Medicine, University of El Salvador (UES), San Salvador 3222, El Salvador
Bartolo Atilio Castellanos: Faculty of Medicine, University of El Salvador (UES), San Salvador 3222, El Salvador
on behalf of the “Agua Futura” Consortium: Faculty of Medicine, University of El Salvador (UES), San Salvador 3222, El Salvador
Viviana Langher: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: This study was carried out as a part of the international cooperation project “Agua Futura” for the improvement of water resource management in rural communities of Central America. Given the problem of water shortage, especially in El Salvador, the aim was to detect some key factors affecting water conservation and environmental sustainability from a community clinical psychological perspective. Ninety rural inhabitants (mean age = 46.84, SD = 17.05) of El Salvador were given a structured interview exploring their symbolizations about water conservation. Data were analyzed through computer-assisted thematic analysis, then complemented by a qualitative analysis. Several themes were identified highlighting some differences regarding the emotional salience given to water resources as a primary good, the sense of responsibility for the sustainability of water resources at the community level, as well as diverse motivations and purposes affecting water use in households. The findings support the role of emotions, representations about others’ attitudes, and defenses against vulnerability and future uncertainty about water shortage. Additionally, the shift between an individualist or collectivist perspective underlying the decision to preserve water resources represents a significant matter to be taken into account for the understanding of effective pro-environmental behaviors in the long run.

Keywords: water; environment; sustainability; community clinical psychology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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