Potential antecedents of Pro-Environmental Behaviours: A pilot study for an integrative model.

Introduction. Given that human behaviours are the major cause of environmental problems it is important to establish the reasons that encourage individuals to perform Pro-Environmental Behaviours (PEBs). Some studies suggest that exposure to natural environments is associated with a greater likelihood of implementing PEBs. In particular, perceived restorativeness of natural environment, environmental attitude, and connection to nature (CNS) has been proposed as predictor of PEBs. However, although environmental psychology has sought to identify coherent patterns of antecedents of PEBs, the knowledge about the relationship and reciprocal influence between antecedents is incomplete. This project aims to fill that gap proposing an integrated model of antecedents of PEBs. Method. 126 adults (82þmale, mean age 22.4 (13.4)) were assessed using a two-wave design, and different alternatives models were tested (path analysis) to verify the relationship between restorativeness, attitude and CNS as antecedents of PEBs. Results and Conclusion. The best model (χ2(1) = 1.09; CFI = .996; RMSEA = .048) showed that environmental attitude and CNS fully mediate the relationship between restorativeness and PEBs. Further analyses with a larger sample are needed to verify other potential mediational effects.