Pro-environmental behaviors and well-being in everyday life

Prinzing, Michael, Lades, Leonhard K., Weber, Till O., Fredrickson, Barbara and Laffan, Kate ORCID: 0000-0002-3366-7704 (2024) Pro-environmental behaviors and well-being in everyday life. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 98. ISSN 0272-4944

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Abstract

Individual and household behaviors are key targets for climate change mitigation efforts, and studies suggest that people who enact more pro-environmental behaviors tend to experience higher levels of well-being. Yet these studies have typically used coarse-grained, retrospective reports that offer limited insight into the immediate impacts of specific behaviors. In three studies (total N = 8,522 observations, N = 1,353 US and UK participants) we adopted a highly fine-grained approach. Using the day reconstruction method, we zoomed in on particular moments in everyday life to examine links between specific behaviors and different aspects of well-being. This revealed generally positive associations, but also substantial variation. Pro-environmental behaviors are more closely and consistently associated with positive and especially “eudaimonic” dimensions of well-being. And more active, effortful, and social behaviors tended to show stronger positive associations. Although the relationships between pro-environmental behaviors and well-being are considerably more complex than prior research has indicated, these findings continue to suggest that ecological and individual well-being can be pursued in tandem.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-e...
Additional Information:	© 2024 Elsevier Ltd
Divisions:	Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2024 07:45
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2025 17:22
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/125263

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