Promoting pro-environmental behavior among university students: Does psychological green climate matter?

Long Le Hoang Nguyen; Hau Van Nguyen

doi:10.46223/HCMCOUJS.soci.en.15.5.3414.2025

15(5)2025

Promoting pro-environmental behavior among university students: Does psychological green climate matter?

Author - Affiliation:

Long Le Hoang Nguyen - University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam

Hau Van Nguyen - HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam

Corresponding author: Long Le Hoang Nguyen - longnlh@ueh.edu.vn

DOI:10.46223/HCMCOUJS.soci.en.15.5.3414.2025

Submitted: 08-05-2024
Accepted: 04-09-2024
Published: 04-12-2024

Abstract

This study tests a model that explains how a university’s green climate can motivate students to exhibit pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, the research model, which consists of the nexus between Psychological Green Climate (PSC), Green Self-Efficacy (GSE), Environmental Passion (EP), and Pro-environmental Behavior (PB), was proposed. A survey of 270 university students indicated that the psychological impact of green climate significantly impacts pro-environmental behavior, mediated by green self-efficacy and environmental passion. Furthermore, GSE has been found to have a moderating effect in strengthening the impact of PSC on EP. The research findings provide evidence of how and when university green strategies can fuel green behavior among the younger generation. Additionally, a cognitive collection consisting of GSE and EP was found to play a vital role in translating the university’s green climate into green behaviors.

Keywords

environmental passion; green self-efficacy; psychological green climate; pro-environmental behavior; university students; Vietnam

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46223/HCMCOUJS.soci.en.15.5.3414.2025