Environmental attitudes and behaviors of college students : a case study conducted at a chilean universit

Abstract

Encouraging the adoption of a pro-environmental behavior is critical in order to reduce the environmental impacts and to move toward a more sustainable future. Higher education plays an important role in training professionals who have an important role in protecting the environment in the future. The aim of this study is to identify whether there are significant differences between college students depending on their diploma of specialization, related to the environment or not, the year in which they are studying and gender. The sample consisted of 383 engineering students in first, third and sixth year, with two instruments designed to measure environmental attitudes and behaviors. Significant differences were found between students pursuing diplomas related to the environment and those who are not. Otherwise, no significant differences were observed between students enrolled in different levels. Perceived effort, positive environmental attitude or perceived positive consequents predict the frequency of pro-environmental behaviors in students, the former (perceived effort, negative) being the most influential variable. Alentar la adopción de comportamientos pro-ambientales es crítico para reducir impactos ambientales y encaminarse hacia un futuro sustentable. La educación superior es relevante para la formación de profesionales que jugarán un rol central en la protección del ambiente. El propósito del presente estudio es identificar si hay diferencias en comportamientos pro- ambientales entre los estudiantes universitarios dependiendo de su diploma de especialización (si ambiental o no), nivel de estudios y género. La muestra incluye a 383 estudiantes de ingeniería que cursan 1, 3 y 6 año, quienes respondieron instrumentos para medir actitudes y comportamientos pro- ambientales. Se observan diferencias significativas entre quienes cursan diplomas de especialización de tipo ambiental respecto de los otros. No hay diferencias según el año o nivel de estudios. El esfuerzo percibido para la realización de comportamientos pro-ambientales, las actitudes pro-ambientales positivas y la percepción de consecuencias positivas por la realización de aquellos, predicen la realización de comportamientos pro- ambientales, donde el esfuerzo percibido es la variable de mayor influencia. Palabras