Exploring waste sorting behavior and its antecedents among university students in the UAE using an extended theory of planned behavior

IF 3.9

Cleaner Waste Systems Pub Date : 2025-09-08 DOI:10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100402

Marie-France Waxin , Hasnan Baber , Aaron Bartholomew , Aaliya Ahammed

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Abstract

This study quantitatively examines waste sorting behavior (WSB) and its antecedents among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Middle Eastern Gulf country. Using an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior, this research investigates the impacts of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on waste sorting intention (WSI), and the impacts of WSI, personal norms, perceived knowledge, trust in the waste management process and convenient infrastructure on WSB. We collected data using a self-administered research questionnaire on a sample of 353 students and used partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse the data.

The results revealed that attitudes (β = 0.433, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.163, p = 0.002) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.137, p = 0.017) significantly positively impacted students’ WSI. Moreover, WSI (β = 0.444, p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.153, p = 0.001), perceived knowledge (β = 0.144, p = 0.003) and personal norms (β = 0.182, p < 0.001) significantly positively impacted students’ WSB. However, trust in the local waste management system and convenient infrastructure were not significant variables for predicting students’ WSB. The R-squared values for WSI and WSB are 0.376 and 0.527, respectively. Practical implications of this study include actionable recommendations for policymakers and educational institutions aimed at enhancing sustainable waste sorting practices.

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利用计划行为的扩展理论探索阿联酋大学生的垃圾分类行为及其前因

本研究对中东海湾国家阿联酋大学生的垃圾分类行为及其影响因素进行了定量研究。本研究运用扩展版的计划行为理论，探讨了态度、主观规范和感知行为控制对垃圾分类意愿的影响，以及WSI、个人规范、感知知识、对垃圾管理过程的信任和便利基础设施对垃圾分类意愿的影响。我们采用自填调查问卷的方式收集了353名学生的数据，并使用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）对数据进行分析。结果显示，态度（β = 0.433, p <； 0.001）、主观规范（β = 0.163, p = 0.002）和感知行为控制（β = 0.137, p = 0.017）显著正向影响学生的WSI。此外，WSI （β = 0.444, p <； 0.001）、感知行为控制（β = 0.153, p = 0.001）、感知知识（β = 0.144, p = 0.003）和个人规范（β = 0.182, p <； 0.001）显著正向影响学生的WSB。然而，对当地废物管理系统和便利基础设施的信任不是预测学生WSB的显著变量。WSI和WSB的r平方值分别为0.376和0.527。这项研究的实际意义包括为决策者和教育机构提出可行的建议，旨在加强可持续的废物分类做法。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Cleaner Waste Systems

CiteScore

2.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量