Internal and External Factors' Influence on Recycling: Insights From a Laboratory Experiment With Observed Behavior

Psychological influences and implications for household disaster preparedness: a systematic review

Introduction

Household disaster preparedness remains critical yet underachieved, despite substantial investments in mitigation infrastructure. Understanding psychological drivers affecting the implementation of household preparedness measures helps distinguish families fully prepared for disasters from those not, thereby improving disaster education. Psychological drivers may promote, hinder, or have no impact on household preparedness. This review fills a significant gap by systematically categorizing psychological factors influencing household disaster preparedness, an area that remains underexplored in previous literature, aiming to provide recommendations for developing more effective psychological interventions and coping mechanisms.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, analyzing published studies (2017-2024) from Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Two authors determined the eligibility of studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

A total of 35 studies were included in this review. Regarding cognitive appraisal, risk perception generally promotes household preparedness. Hazard intrusiveness, perceived efficacy, and perceived response efficacy encourage preparedness. Regarding motivation and intention, self-efficacy and perceived benefits boost preparedness, and the transfer of responsibility regulates the influence of trust on household preparedness. Regarding social interaction, formal support, and community resilience promotes preparedness, whereas informal support and social norms may impede it. Regarding bonds with the living environment, place attachment promotes housing protection but hinders relocation. Sense of place hinders permanent evacuation or relocation.

Discussion

Disaster prevention and management should emphasize the responsibility of individuals and families in reducing disaster risks, clarify the consequences and probabilities of disasters, refine social norm indicators, and develop a resettlement planning incorporating place identity cultivation to improve effective household preparedness.

How does abstract and concrete garbage classification signage influence waste sorting behavior?

Despite the issuance of standardized garbage classification signage, the rate of garbage classification in China remains low. We conducted a pair of laboratory experiments to explore the cognitive processing differences between abstract (including recyclables, hazardous garbage, and food signs) and concrete (including paper, plastic, glass, metal, textiles, batteries, household chemicals, tubes, and food signs) classification signs. We tested a nudging strategy to enhance garbage classification behavior. In Experiment 1, we divided garbage classification signs into two conditions: an abstract condition (comprising abstract signs) and a concrete condition (comprising concrete signs). The Go/No Go task was used to simulate garbage classification behavior. Participants were instructed to press a key when the garbage stimulus matched the classification signs (Go condition) and to refrain from pressing the key when there was a mismatch (No Go condition). The results showed that responses under the concrete condition were expedited compared to those under the abstract condition. This suggests that concrete signage requires less cognitive exertion, thereby enhancing the efficiency of waste classification. In Experiment 2, we optimized the existing bin signage, which predominantly featured abstract signs (traditional condition), and transformed it into a bin signage that emphasized concrete classification signs. These concrete signs were strategically positioned on the upper part of the bins to draw attention (nudging condition). The results suggested that the nudging condition required fewer cognitive resources than the traditional condition, which in turn increased the efficiency of processing garbage classification. This study not only validates the effects of concreteness in garbage classification but also provides effective nudge strategies to complement existing garbage classification management policy tools in a realistic Chinese context.

The Green Maternity project: A midwife-led initiative to promote correct waste segregation on an Australian postnatal ward

AIMS

Healthcare waste production is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, negatively impacting the environment. Ineffective healthcare waste disposal results in greater measures to manage it which is costly to both the environment and healthcare organizations. This study aimed to improve waste management in a tertiary maternity hospital. Specifically, the impact of a midwife-led intervention to improve waste segregation, staff knowledge and attitudes and waste management-related costs was investigated.

DESIGN

A multi-method study including pre- and post-intervention staff waste management knowledge and attitude surveys and waste audits of bins located on the postnatal ward.

METHODS

The intervention included education sessions, posters and signage by waste bins and monthly newsletters distributed throughout 2021 to raise staff awareness of correct waste segregation processes. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were distributed in early 2021 and early 2022, respectively. The waste audits occurred on three occasions, January, July and December of 2021. The waste audit included total waste in kilograms (kg), waste in kg by segregation and identification of correct and incorrect segregation. Waste audit and quantitative staff survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi square. Qualitative data from the staff surveys were analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Knowledge and attitudes to waste management were similar across pre- and post-intervention staff surveys. Knowledge of accurate allocation of specific items to waste streams was variable with errors identified in both the pre- and post-surveys. Waste audit data showed reductions in clinical waste at each measurement, with a 71.2% decrease in clinical waste from baseline to the final audit. Accuracy of waste segregation also improved from the baseline to final audit, resulting in a 48% reduction in waste management costs.

CONCLUSION

The midwife-led initiative improved waste segregation and achieved the associated waste management cost reduction.

IMPACT

A midwifery-led initiative to address waste production and segregation on a maternity ward had a positive impact on waste segregation practices and associated waste management costs. The existence of change champions along with in-service sessions, posters and newsletters to raise awareness of correct waste segregation resulted in a 71% reduction of incorrect items being placed in clinical waste bins. Challenges such as COVID-19 pressures and workload made it difficult for midwives to engage in waste management education and effective waste segregation.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY?: Implementing clinician-led waste management interventions across hospital wards while addressing workload issues are likely to have significant cost benefits for organisations and minimise the environmental impacts of healthcare settings.

Behavioral paradigms for studying pro-environmental behavior: A systematic review

In view of global environmental deterioration and climate change, researchers from multiple fields of the behavioral sciences examine the determinants of pro-environmental behavior. Research on pro-environmental behavior is dominated by the use of self-report measures, which relates to critical validity problems. Some of these problems can be addressed by studying consequential behavior in behavioral paradigms (i.e., systematically arranged situations of actual environmental relevance). However, pro-environmental behavior paradigms have been scattered across disciplines, and many researchers may not be aware of the wealth of available paradigms. The present review aims to acquaint researchers across disciplinary borders with the behavioral paradigms developed to study pro-environmental behavior in different domains. A systematic literature search revealed 99 ad hoc paradigms and five validated paradigms of pro-environmental behavior. I review how different authors have succeeded in implementing the consequences of pro-environmental behavior in standardized field, laboratory, or online situations, point to caveats in the use of behavioral paradigms, and illustrate how researchers can select a paradigm for their own research.

How to promote the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system: A tripartite evolutionary game theory perspective

Due to the disorderly access to medical care and inefficient use of health resources, the advancement of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment is more valued in promoting health system reform. Hence, this article integrates prospect theory into an evolutionary game model of the local government health departments, the medical institutions, and the patients in the system promotion of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment. The simulation shows the specific influencing mechanism of the psychological perceived value of game subjects. Then by introducing the stochastic evolutionary game model, the system promotion under different medical cultures is also discussed in detail. The results indicate that for local government health departments, the amount and duration of financial subsidies are the key factors influencing the game system's evolution. For medical institutions, participating in the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system is relatively beneficial. For patients, the recovery rate in primary hospitals matters more than the cost of treatment. Changes in the risk sensitivity coefficient will cause the equilibrium of the game system to change. However, changes in the loss avoidance factor do not change the equilibrium and only have an impact on the speed of convergence. With the health departments' intervention, patients in rural medical culture are more inclined to support the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system than those in urban or town medical culture. Therefore, in order to promote the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system, this article recommends that more attention should be paid to the regulatory role of health departments and the participation improvement of medical institutions and patients.

The effect of COVID-19 risk perception on pro-environmental behavior of Chinese consumers: Perspectives from affective event theory

Introduction

COVID-19 has altered human cognition and changed the cultural values of society. However, there has not been much debate among scholars about whether these above changes have led to an increase in pro-environmental behavior (PEB) of Chinese consumers.

Methods

A comprehensive model was developed based on affective event theory. An online questionnaire was distributed, and 501 usable questionnaires were collected. In addition, two complementary approaches were employed: partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA).

Results

The PLS-SEM results showed that COVID-19 risk perception, nostalgia, the awe of nature, and attitude were found to have a positive effect on PEB; and the moderating effect of power distance belief (PD) between nostalgia (NO), attitude (AT) and PEB was confirmed. According to the NCA results, AT and NO are necessary conditions for the PEB of consumers.

Discussion

This study provides deeper insight into the understanding of consumers' pro-environmental behavior in the context of COVID-19 through the combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA.

Environmental Awareness and Air Quality: The Mediating Role of Environmental Protective Behaviors

The purpose of this study is twofold: First, it tests the role of students’ environmental awareness and climate change awareness in their environmental protective behavior and environment quality (EQ). Second, it tests the mediating role of environmental protective behaviors in the association between environment behavior, climate change behavior, and environment quality. Moreover, this study utilizes climate-friendly behaviors and pro-environmental behaviors to reflect environmental protective behaviors. The stratified random sampling technique was applied to collect data through a questionnaire from a sample of 403 graduate students enrolled in Higher Education Commission-recognized private and public universities of Pakistan. This study applied partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to empirically estimate the results. This study found that climate change awareness significantly and positively affects climate-friendly behavior, environmental quality, and pro-environmental behavior. Similarly, environmental awareness significantly and positively affects environmental quality and pro-environmental behavior. Moreover, pro-environmental behavior significantly affects environmental quality. Indirect results indicate that pro-environmental behavior significantly mediates between climate change awareness and environmental quality, and between environmental awareness and environmental quality. The findings of this study suggest the importance of enhancing awareness of climate- and climate change-related issues among students to save the environment. Higher education institutions should design subjects and courses that will raise environmental and climate change awareness, and expose students to climate- and environment-friendly education.

Pro-environmental habits: An underexplored research agenda in sustainability science

Habits are the fundamental basis for many of our daily actions and can be powerful barriers to behavioural change. Still, habits are not included in most narratives, theories, and interventions applied to sustainable behaviour. One reason societies struggle to reach policy goals and people fail to change towards more pro-environmental lifestyles might be that many behaviours are now bound by strong habits that override knowledge and intentions to act. In this perspective article, we provide three arguments for why pro-environmental habits are a needed research agenda in sustainability science: (1) habit theory highlights how behaviour is heavily reliant on automatic processes, (2) the environmental context sets boundary conditions for behaviour, shape habits, and cues action responses, and (3) our habits and past behaviour shape our values and self-identity. These arguments highlight the transformative potential of looking at sustainable behaviours through a habit lens. We believe a research agenda on pro-environmental habits could generate a more holistic understanding of sustainable behaviours and complement today's dominating approaches which emphasize reasoned decisions and intrinsic motivations such as values, norms, and intentions to understand and predict pro-environmental behaviour. We highlight evident knowledge gaps and practical benefits of considering habit theory to promote pro-environmental behaviours, and how habit architecture could be utilized as a strong leverage point when designing, modifying, and building urban environments.