How do environmental attitude and behaviour develop during childhood? [13.08.19]
The issues of environment and sustainability are more explosive than ever. Public awareness is growing steadily. A longitudinal study with research partners from the university of Hohenheim sheds light on the issue how environmental attitude and behaviour develop during childhood.
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Publication
Otto, Siegmar; Evans, Gary W.; Moon, Min J.; Kaiser, Florian G. (2019): The development of children’s environmental attitude and behavior. In: Global Environmental Change 58, S. 101947. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.101947.
Abstract
Environmental attitude and behavior are at the roots of a sustainable future, yet little is known about their developmental origins in early childhood. This longitudinal study is the first to examine how children’s environmental attitude and behavior develop throughout childhood (ages 7 to 18, N = 118). Environmental attitude and behavior form around the age of 7, increase until the age of 10, level off until the age of 14, and then decline again. Environmental behavior develops from childhood to early adolescence and starts consolidating from age 10 onwards, whereas environmental attitude remains in flux at least through early adulthood.
