How do children encourage their parents to adopt green consumption behaviour? - An analysis of the perspective of moral elevation

IF 10.9 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Sustainable Production and Consumption Pub Date : 2025-02-24 DOI:10.1016/j.spc.2025.02.024

Feiyu Chen , Tong Zhang , Jing Hou , Hong Chen , Ruyin Long , Tianze Zhang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The United Nations sustainable development goals provide a guarantee for the future development of children, highlighting the pivotal role of children as beneficiaries and learners in fostering sustainable development. However, how children can actively contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals remains underexplored. This study delves into the intergenerational transmission of green concepts within families, specifically exploring how children can exert influence on their parents' green consumption behaviour. Two field experiments are conducted to reveal the dynamics and mechanisms of children's influence on their parents' environmentally friendly behaviour. The result of Study I (Number of experimental group = 320, Number of control group = 314) suggests that trans-education within the family, initiated by children who have received education on green and low-carbon, fosters enhanced green consumption behaviour among their parents. Expanding upon this insight, Study II (Number of experimental group = 1588) elucidates that the transformation in parents' behaviour is not immediate but rather follows a “push” mechanism. Specifically, trans-education stimulates moral elevation in parents, eliciting positive moral motion and a heightened proclivity towards green and low-carbon actions. Moreover, trans-education not only directly inspires parents to cultivate more personal norms related to green and low-carbon, but also reinforces parents' personal norms by further bolstering their moral elevation, ultimately translating into concrete green and low-carbon actions. Notably, the attribution of parental responsibility moderates the impact of trans-education on green consumption behaviour. Parents who hold a high sense of parental responsibility not only assimilate cross-generational education more effectively but also excel at transforming these notions into tangible green consumption behaviour.

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来源期刊

Sustainable Production and Consumption Environmental Science-Environmental Engineering

CiteScore

17.40

自引率

7.40%

发文量

389

审稿时长

13 days

期刊介绍： Sustainable production and consumption refers to the production and utilization of goods and services in a way that benefits society, is economically viable, and has minimal environmental impact throughout its entire lifespan. Our journal is dedicated to publishing top-notch interdisciplinary research and practical studies in this emerging field. We take a distinctive approach by examining the interplay between technology, consumption patterns, and policy to identify sustainable solutions for both production and consumption systems.