Eco-Sensitive Minds: Clustering Readiness to Change and Environmental Sensitivity for Sustainable Engagement

Marina Baroni, Giulia Valdrighi, Andrea Guazzini and Mirko Duradoni ()
Additional contact information
Marina Baroni: Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Giulia Valdrighi: Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Andrea Guazzini: Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Mirko Duradoni: Department of Human and Social Sciences, Mercatorum University, 00186 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-29

Abstract: To counter the consequences of climate change on both planetary and human health, a greater adoption of sustainable behaviors is required. In this context, two factors emerge as potentially crucial: Readiness to Change (RTC) and environmental sensitivity. The study aimed to investigate the interaction between these two constructs and their impact on the engagement of pro-environmental behaviors and levels of eco-anxiety, in order to assess potential differences in behavioral and affective factors that may support the improvement of sustainable habits. Data were anonymously collected online from 947 participants. A Random Forest Clustering (RFC) analysis was performed as well as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to explore differences between the identified clusters in terms of sustainable behaviors and eco-anxiety. The RFC revealed the presence of seven distinct clusters and highlighted that environmental sensitivity plays a key role in defining them. Moreover, the findings showed that high RTC combined with high environmental sensitivity is associated with greater engagement in pro-environmental behaviors and higher levels of eco-anxiety. These results represent a promising groundwork for the development of both future studies in this field of research and targeted educational and awareness programs addressing the climate crisis.

Keywords: readiness to change; environmental sensitivity; pro-environmental behaviors; eco-anxiety (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/2071-1050/17/12/5662/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5662/ (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:12:p:5662-:d:1683054

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 ().