This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnson, C. Y. Articles by Cordell, H. K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Ethnic Variation in Environmental Belief and Behavior

An Examination of the New Ecological Paradigm in a Social Psychological Context

Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, in Athens, Georgia.

J. M. Bowker

Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, in Athens, Georgia.

H. Ken Cordell

Southern Research Station; USDA Forest Service in Athens, Georgia.

We use national-level data to test a modified version of Stern, Dietz, & Guagnano’s causal model of environmental belief and behavior. We focus mainly on ethnic variation in environmental belief, as measured by the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP), and ethnic variation for four environmental behaviors: environmental reading, household recycling, environmental group joining, and participation in nature-based outdoor recreation. Blacks and foreign-born Latinos were less likely than Whites to score higher on the NEP. Any behavioral differences between Whites and the respective minority groups were expected to diminish with the inclusion of the NEP as an intervening variable in the model between ethnicity and behavior. However, ethnic differences remained stable and strong even when environmental belief was added. Overall, Asian American and U.S.-born Latino environmentalism was most similar to Whites. African American concern and behavior was least similar to White environmentalism. Gender, age, and liberal political orientation were also consistent explicators for both environmental concern and behavior.

Key Words: environmentalism • ethnicity • New Ecological Paradigm

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. T. Yabiku, D. G. Casagrande, and E. Farley-Metzger Preferences for Landscape Choice in a Southwestern Desert City Environment and Behavior, May 1, 2008; 40(3): 382 - 400. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Dolnicar and F. Leisch An Investigation of Tourists' Patterns of Obligation to Protect the Environment Journal of Travel Research, May 1, 2008; 46(4): 381 - 391. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. P. Chatterjee Oriental Disadvantage versus Occidental Exuberance: Appraising Environmental Concern in India A Case Study in a Local Context International Sociology, January 1, 2008; 23(1): 5 - 33. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. L. Milfont, J. Duckitt, and L. D. Cameron A Cross-Cultural Study of Environmental Motive Concerns and Their Implications for Proenvironmental Behavior Environment and Behavior, November 1, 2006; 38(6): 745 - 767. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J.-D. M. Saphores, H. Nixon, O. A. Ogunseitan, and A. A. Shapiro Household Willingness to Recycle Electronic Waste: An Application to California Environment and Behavior, March 1, 2006; 38(2): 183 - 208. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Deng, G. J. Walker, and G. Swinnerton A Comparison of Environmental Values and Attitudes Between Chinese in Canada and Anglo-Canadians Environment and Behavior, January 1, 2006; 38(1): 22 - 47. [Abstract] [PDF]