Research on the variations in individual waste separation behavior due to different information strategies–Mediating effects of psychological distance

2022 ◽  
Vol 304 ◽  
pp. 114320
Author(s):  
Feiyu Chen ◽  
Wenjin Chen ◽  
Jing Hou ◽  
Wenbo Li
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distance ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
Information Strategies ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
Separation Behavior

scholarly journals Understanding the Emotion Coping Strategies During Public Emergencies – From the Perspective of Psychological Distance

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Sun ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Fangmin Li
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Psychological Distance ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Information Strategies ◽  
Independent Information ◽  
Self Construal ◽  
Novel Virus ◽  
Emotion Coping ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

Research has investigated behavioral coping strategies for the negative emotions that public emergencies elicit. Accordingly, our current research explored how people coped with negative emotions in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, from a cognitive perspective. Building on the theory of psychological distance and self-construal, we proposed that people who experienced fear, sadness and anxiety responded with independent-self construal, focusing on information that related to themselves and the novel virus (independent information). On the other hand, people who experienced fear, sadness and anger responded with interdependent-self construal, focusing on information that pertained to “us”, the virus and nature (interdependent information). We collected data from 1,142 participants at both the initial peak of the outbreak and when its spread had subsided. Based on this longitudinal data, we examined the effectiveness of these strategies, and our findings suggested that independent information was effective in decreasing fear and anxiety, while interdependent information effectively mitigated sadness. The findings could help researchers, practitioners, governments, and organizations to implement appropriate information strategies to regulate individuals’ negative emotions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Research on the Driving Mechanism of Waste Separation Behavior: Based on Qualitative Analysis of Chinese Urban Residents

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feiyu Chen ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
Meifen Wu ◽  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Ruyin Long
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Source Separation ◽  
Reduction Process ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
Separation Behavior

Waste source separation is the fundamental premise to ensure effective waste recycling. Whether the entire waste recycling and reduction process can be effectively carried out depends on the waste source separation. Clarifying the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior plays an important role in effectively guiding the urban residents’ waste separation behavior and achieving waste recycling. In this study, qualitative analysis was used to explore the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior. Through the open coding, axial coding and selective coding of the in-depth interview data collected from 323 Chinese urban residents, the study has proposed and verified the four-dimensional structure of waste separation behavior, namely, waste separation behavior of habit, decision, relationship, and citizen. The main driving factors of urban residents’ waste separation behavior have been clarified. On this basis, a theoretical model for the driving mechanism of waste separation behavior was constructed in this study. Ten main categories of factors have been presented, namely, value orientation, cognition of separation, regulatory focus, preferences for comfort, perception of separation empowerment, policy and standards, products and facilities, group norms, links trustworthiness, and social demography variables. Moreover, four typical relationship structures were proposed. Finally, the intervention policy suggestions were made to effectively guide the urban residents’ waste separation behavior.

scholarly journals Different Perceptions of Belief: Predicting Household Solid Waste Separation Behavior of Urban and Rural Residents in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7778
Author(s):  
Tianyang Lou ◽  
Deyong Wang ◽  
Huili Chen ◽  
Dongjie Niu
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Household Solid Waste ◽  
Urban And Rural Residents ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
Separation Behavior ◽  
Rural Group

An unprecedented Household Solid Waste (HSW) separation program was launched in 46 cities and some pilot rural areas in China in 2019. This study examines the antecedents of waste separation behavior using the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify beliefs that are useful targets for interventions, and compares the urban-rural differences. Based on interviews with rural and urban residents, we identified residents’ beliefs influencing waste separation behaviors, including four behavioral, seven normative, and eight control beliefs. Then, we tested the conceptual model with a two-stage questionnaire survey using a sample of 604 residents from urban and rural areas. Evidence from structural equation modeling supports the extended TPB in that it predicts waste separation intention and behavior on the whole. Moral norm and self-identity were found to independently predict intention and may prove a useful addition to the TPB; however, the path from attitude to intention is not supported in both urban and rural models. Moreover, the specific difference of belief between urban and rural residents was examined. The behavioral beliefs associated to money, including earning, free waste bin or bag, and fine, are significant only in the rural group. The normative beliefs of family, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members, and government can affect residents’ subjective norm in both urban and rural, while the beliefs of relatives, friends, and neighbors are significant only in the rural group. Implications for managers of operating waste separation programs were discussed. Further investigation into the potential of the model to intervene in waste separation behavior is required.

scholarly journals Household waste separation intention and the importance of public policy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-79
Author(s):  
Bing Chen ◽  
Jiwon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
Separation Behavior ◽  
Survey Questionnaires

PurposeThe key challenge that urban cities in most developing and transitional economies is confronting is municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Waste separation is a critical component to successful recycling management in terms of enhancing the quality of recyclables, reducing MSW and optimizing incineration. The urge to actualizing sustained waste separation behavior has been hindered by potential barriers. This study aims to examine the influences of external and internal stimuli of targeted households' waste separation intention in parts of China.Design/methodology/approachA multifactor framework predicting the process that leads to waste separation attitude and behavioral intention is proposed. SEM analysis is conducted in SmartPLS based on 371 survey questionnaires collected in Nanning city in China.FindingsPolicy regulation is the biggest determinant of attitude among external stimuli, while awareness of consequence has the strongest relationship with an attitude among internal stimuli. Facilitating conditions, subjective norms and moral norms are all significant predictors of attitude. As a result, increasing positive attitude leads to enhance waste separation lifestyle.Research limitations/implicationsThis study adopts a cross-sectional design to investigate the waste separation intention of local households. Data collection is restricted to one point in time for every individual. A mixed method is recommended. Quantitative research can examine variables provided in existing literature with numerical analysis. Qualitative research might be helpful to identify other unknown factors. Also, the survey questionnaires employ a self-reported manner, and respondents might be overrating to avoid embarrassment.Practical implicationsFuture research is recommended to engage observation at houses or at the waste-collecting points for actual waste separation behavior. Moreover, this study measures intention toward household waste separation, but whether this intention will eventually lead to waste separation behavior is not a guarantee. Future study is recommended to examine whether intention translates into actual waste separation behavior.Originality/valueEmphasizing the importance of policy element as a direct influence toward attitude, this paper focuses on the waste separation attitude accumulated from external and internal stimuli, and, concurrently, waste separation behavioral intention is influenced by accumulated attitudes. The study provides relevant policy development information of three Asian countries to enhance their present and future policy directions for a sustainable household waste separation management process

scholarly journals Waste Separation in Cafeterias: A Study among University Students in the Netherlands

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágústa Árnadóttir ◽  
Gerjo Kok ◽  
Suzanne van Gils ◽  
Gill ten Hoor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
University Students ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Greenhouse Gasses ◽  
Students First ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
Separation Behavior ◽  
Actual Decision

Recycling waste is important to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses. The aim of this project was to understand determinants of cafeteria waste separation behavior among university students. First, the determinants of waste separation behavior among university students (n = 121) were explored using an online questionnaire. In study 2 (pre-/post-test design), the effect of a small intervention (based on study 1) on actual waste sorting behavior was observed. Finally, a semi-qualitative study in 59 students was conducted as process evaluation of the intervention. The following results were revealed: (1) Students have limited knowledge about waste separation, have a high intention to separate waste, are positive about waste separation in general, and believe that they can separate waste correctly. (2) Just over half of the waste is correctly recycled. An intervention with extra information had no significant effect on improving recycling behavior. (3) Students evaluated the intervention positively. Some students suggested that more information should be available where the actual decision making takes place. Ultimately, this paper concludes that although students have a positive attitude and are willing to behave pro-environmentally, there is a gap between intention and actual behavior. These results may also apply to other organizations and members of those organizations. New interventions are needed to trigger students to make correct waste separation decisions where the actual decision making takes place.

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