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Recycling and ambivalence: quantitative and qualitative analyses of household recycling among young adults
Örebro University, Department of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6613-5974
2008 (English)In: Environment and Behavior, ISSN 0013-9165, E-ISSN 1552-390X, Vol. 40, no 6, p. 777-797Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Theories about ambivalence, as well as quantitative and qualitativeempirical approaches, are applied to obtain an understandingof recycling among young adults. A questionnaire was mailedto 422 Swedish young people. Regression analyses showed thata mix of negative emotions (worry) and positive emotions (hopeand joy) about the environmental problems was positively relatedto recycling. The opposite pattern was found for attitudinalambivalence toward recycling. Thereafter, semistructured interviewswere performed. In a group of reluctant recyclers, the ambivalentattitudes consisted of views that recycling is something beneficialfor the environment and is a civic duty. On the other hand,they wanted more information, were unable to integrate youthfulideals about living in an environmentally friendly way withthe everyday life of young adulthood, and felt low self-efficacy.In addition, strategies to activate positive emotions alongsidea high degree of environmental worry were explored in a groupwho recycle regularly.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2008. Vol. 40, no 6, p. 777-797
Keywords [en]
recycling behavior, attitudinal ambivalence, environmental problems, mixed emotions, worry, hope, emerging adulthood
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-3238DOI: 10.1177/0013916507308787ISI: 000260280900002Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-53549106899OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-3238DiVA, id: diva2:137525
Available from: 2007-02-23 Created: 2007-02-23 Last updated: 2023-12-08Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Hope and worry: exploring young people's values, emotions, and behavior regarding global environmental problems
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Hope and worry: exploring young people's values, emotions, and behavior regarding global environmental problems
2007 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This dissertation explores young people’s engagement concerning global environmental problems. To be able to reverse these problems, it is vital to involve the public in the strivings for a sustainable society. However, environmental problems are complex, imbued with uncertainties and ambivalence. Furthermore, learning about global environmental threats can trigger unpleasant emotions. Some social theorists even claim that we live in a “culture of fear” where people’s worries about different risks are related to a low degree of social trust, low well-being, and egocentrism.

Therefore, the first aim was to take a critical approach to the view of emotions, and worry in particular, as being solely negative, or even irrational, states. First, a review of emotion theories focused on the constructive role of emotions. Second, self-report studies were conducted with two groups of young people. Worry about environmental problems was positively associated with other-oriented values of both an altruistic and biospheric kind, and with trust in one’s own and other actors’ ability to contribute to the solution of the problems. The young women worried more than the men. This was explained by the fact that they embraced altruistic values to a higher degree. Environmental worry, hence, was not the same as a low degree of trust, but seemed to be a moral emotion.

The second aim was to identify factors that can help young people deal constructively with their worry. In a group of late adolescents, environmental worry was negatively related to subjective well-being at a population level. However, there existed subgroups of young people who were highly worried: one high and one low on well-being. The first group experienced more existential meaning, as well as anger, hope, and trust concerning the environmental problems than the second group. Thereafter, interviews were performed with a group of young volunteers. They perceived their environmental worry both as a constructive force motivating behavior, and, when connected with feelings of guilt and helplessness, as related to psychological struggle. Sources of hope were pinpointed. These consisted of cognitive restructuring, trust in different societal actors, and trust in the efficacy of pro-environmental behavior at an individual level. Furthermore, the collective engagement worked as a coping strategy activating positive emotions.

The third aim was to explore how ambivalence at a macro and micro-level is related to recycling. In a group of young adults, mixed negative (worry) and positive (hope and joy) emotions about the environmental problems were positively related to recycling. Ambivalent attitudes about recycling, on the contrary, were negatively related to behavior. Interviews revealed that the ambivalence at a macro level was associated with an ability to face the ambiguities of environmental problems. The ambivalent attitudes seemed to be signs of an inability to perceive a clear connection between behavior in everyday life and the environmental problems, and to integrate ideals about living in an environmentally friendly way with the everyday life of young adulthood.

The dissertation concludes by pleading for more holistic methodological approaches when it comes to exploring attitudes and emotions concerning the environmental issue.

Future studies should avoid looking at worry about societal problems in isolation. Negative and positive emotions are not bipolar. Young people who are highly worried can also experience positive emotions to a high degree, which seems to have a positive impact on both well-being and behavior.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Örebro: Örebro universitetsbibliotek, 2007. p. 148
Series
Örebro Studies in Psychology, ISSN 1651-1328 ; 11
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-991 (URN)978-91-7668-526-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2007-03-16, Hörsal P2, Prismahuset, Örebro universitet, Örebro, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2007-02-23 Created: 2007-02-22 Last updated: 2017-10-18Bibliographically approved

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Ojala, Maria

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