Who Will Save Energy? An Extension of Social Cognitive Theory with Place Attachment to Understand Residents’ Energy-Saving Behaviors

Xinyuan Zhang, Emmanuel Nketiah, Victor Shi and Jinfu Cheng ()
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Xinyuan Zhang: School of Taxation, Jilin University of Finance and Economics, Changchun 130117, China
Emmanuel Nketiah: School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Victor Shi: Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
Jinfu Cheng: Shanghai Documentary Academy, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 200030, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: With environmental concerns gaining prominence, the study of energy-saving behavior (ESB) has captured global expert attention. This research applied the SCT model and utilized survey data collected in Jiangsu Province to explore the factors influencing residents’ energy-saving behavior (ESB). The findings reveal that self-efficacy, attitudes, and social norms are direct positive determinants of ESB. Additionally, these factors mediate the positive relationship between knowledge and ESB. Notably, knowledge enhances self-efficacy, attitudes toward energy saving, and adherence to social norms, while outcome expectations improve attitudes and norms. Place attachment also emerges as a significant predictor of ESB, exerting its influence indirectly through attitudes and social norms. These insights enrich social cognitive theory by incorporating place attachment to examine ESB, substantially contribute to the discourse on environmental protection, and have implications for energy conservation strategies globally.

Keywords: energy saving behavior; social cognitive theory; place attachment; outcome expectations; electricity consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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