Threat Perception As a Determinant of Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Public Involvement in Air Pollution Abatement in Cache Valley, Utah
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 12-2008 Threat Perception as a Determinant of Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Public Involvement in Air Pollution Abatement in Cache Valley, Utah Joshua D. Marquit Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Other Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Public Health Commons Recommended Citation Marquit, Joshua D., "Threat Perception as a Determinant of Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Public Involvement in Air Pollution Abatement in Cache Valley, Utah" (2008). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 188. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/188 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THREAT PERCEPTION AS A DETERMINANT OF PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIORS: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT IN CACHE VALLEY, UTAH by Joshua D. Marquit A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Psychology Approved: Scott C. Bates, Ph.D. Kerstin Schroder, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member Edward H. Redd, M.D. Byron R. Burnham, Ed. D. Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2008 ii Copyright © Joshua D. Marquit 2008 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Threat Perception as a Determinant of Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Public Involvement in Air Pollution Abatement in Cache Valley, Utah by Joshua D. Marquit, Master of Science Utah State University, 2008 Major Professor: Scott C. Bates, Ph.D. Department: Psychology Threat perception related to environmental issues such as air pollution may be a determinant of pro-environmental behaviors. Among the potential threats of air pollution, include the perceived impacts on the psychological, social, and economic wellbeing of a community. Because of rapid increases in population growth, urbanization, and the mountainous landscapes, the American West is extremely susceptible to the adverse impacts of air pollution. A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the Air Quality Perception Survey conducted in Cache County, Utah. The survey focused on the public perception of air pollution in Cache County and perceived impact on personal and community life. From a sample of 289 returned surveys, the data were examined to determine the possible link between threat perception and the decision to engage in iv specific pro-environmental and avoidance behaviors. The analysis found that threat perception predicted some pro-environmental and avoidance behaviors. (100 pages) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my wife, Miranda, and son, Gavin, for their patience and support throughout this whole process. Especially to Miranda, whose listening ear and patient heart has been a welcomed relief. I would also like to thank my parents, Wayne and Maria Marquit, for their love and support. I express my deepest gratitude to the faculty and staff of the psychology department at Utah State University for their professional support and guidance. Especially to my major professor, Dr. Scott C. Bates, whose assistance, guidance, support, patience, and persistence have been a welcomed aid throughout my academic career and the research process. I would also like to thank the health professionals and staff at the Bear River Health Department and the Air Quality Task Force for giving me the opportunity to conduct collaborative research with their organizations. Their feedback and support were both timely and helpful. Specifically, my supervisor at the Bear River Health Department, Dr. Edward H. Redd, whose unwavering support, vision, and expertise made this research project possible. I also give thanks to Rich, Toshi, John, Kerstin, Roy, Craig, and Amanda for their help and work at various points throughout the project. Finally, I would like to give thanks to Dr. Britt L. Mace, who encouraged me to attend graduate school, inspired my interest in environmental psychology, and has been a trusted colleague and friend. Joshua D. Marquit vi CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ viii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM STATEMENT ................................ 1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Problem Statement ...................................................................................... 3 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 9 Determinants of Pro-Environmental Behaviors .......................................... 9 Threat Perception as a Determinant of Pro-Environmental Behavior ........ 27 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 33 III. METHOD ................................................................................................... 36 Participants .................................................................................................. 36 Materials ..................................................................................................... 39 Procedure .................................................................................................... 42 IV. RESULTS ................................................................................................... 44 Air Quality Perception ................................................................................ 45 Perceived Impact of Air Pollution .............................................................. 45 Threat Perception ........................................................................................ 46 Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors on “Yellow Air Days” ....... 50 Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors on “Red Air Days” ............ 52 Threat as a Determinant of “Yellow Air Day” Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors .................................................................. 55 Threat as a Determinant of “Red Air Day” Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors .................................................................. 56 vii Page V. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................. 59 Air Quality Perception ................................................................................ 59 Impact of Air Pollution Perception ............................................................. 61 Threat Perception ........................................................................................ 62 Self-Reported Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors .................... 63 Threat as a Determinant of Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors ........................................................................................... 67 General Discussion ..................................................................................... 68 Limitations .................................................................................................. 69 Future Research .......................................................................................... 73 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 75 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................. 84 Appendix A: Air Quality Perception Survey ............................................ 85 Appendix B: Cover Letter ........................................................................ 90 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Demographic Information for Sample .............................................................. 38 2. Descriptive Statistics for Perceived Impacts of Air Pollution Questions ......... 46 3. Threat Perception Factors Found by Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis and Rotated Variables ........................................................................ 47 4. Descriptive Statistics and Results for Paired Samples t Tests for the Recoded Self-Reported Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors on “Yellow” and “Red Air Days” .......................................................................... 49 5. The “Yellow Air Day” Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behavior Factors Found by the Maximum Likelihood Factor and Rotated Variables ..... 51 6. The Factors Found for “Red Air Day” Pro-Environmental and Avoidance Behaviors by the Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis and Rotated Variables ........................................................................................................... 54 7. Multiple Regression Analysis of “Yellow Air Day” Behavior Factor 1 Scores ................................................................................................................ 56 8. Multiple Regression