The Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire: Validation Among Portuguese Population

Luzia Arantes () and Bruno Barbosa Sousa
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Luzia Arantes: Águeda School of Technology and Management, University of Aveiro, 3750-127 Águeda, Portugal
Bruno Barbosa Sousa: School of Hospitality and Tourism (ESHT), Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA), 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: The primary objective of this study is to validate the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ) for the Portuguese population, ensuring its reliability and applicability across the dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to sustainability. This validation is crucial for ensuring the SCQ captures local cultural nuances and provides reliable data to inform educational and policy strategies for promoting sustainability. To achieve this goal, a quantitative methodology was adopted, involving the translation and cultural adaptation of the SCQ into Portuguese. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 630 participants, aged 17 to 83, using an online platform. Ethical procedures were rigorously followed, including obtaining informed consent from all participants and ensuring data confidentiality. The factor structure of the SCQ was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The analysis confirmed a three-dimensional factor structure aligned with the environmental, social, and economic pillars of sustainability, as well as significant correlations between these dimensions and real-world sustainable practices such as recycling and energy conservation. The results confirmed the construct validity of the SCQ, demonstrating robust reliability indicators across its scales and acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.860; TLI = 0.851; RMSEA = 0.045). These findings highlight the questionnaire’s utility as a measurement tool for sustainable consciousness in the Portuguese context. The SCQ provides a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and researchers. For instance, educators can use the SCQ to identify gaps in students’ sustainability knowledge, policymakers can prioritise areas for intervention based on public attitudes, and researchers can explore relationships between awareness and sustainable behaviours to design effective programs. Furthermore, this study contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by enabling data-driven strategies to integrate sustainability education into curricula, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and behaviours essential for achieving global education goals.

Keywords: sustainable awareness; sustainable development; sustainable development goals; 2030 agenda; structural equation modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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