Marine environmental contamination: public awareness, concern and perceived effectiveness in five European countries.
Given the potential of Perceived Consumer Effectiveness (PCE) in shaping pro-environmental behavior, the relationships between PCE, awareness of causes of contaminants in the marine environment, and concern about marine environmental contamination were investigated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). PCE is the belief that an individual has in being able to make a difference when acting alone. A web-based survey was performed in one western European country (Belgium), one northern European country (Ireland) and three southern European countries (Italy, Portugal and Spain), resulting in a total sample size of 2824 participants. The analyses confirm that European citizens are concerned about marine environmental problems. Participants from the southern countries reported the highest concern. In addition, the study participants did not have a strong belief in themselves in being capable of making a difference in tackling marine environmental problems. However, a higher awareness, which was associated with a higher degree of concern, enhanced the belief that an individual can make a difference in tackling marine environmental problems, though only when a concrete action was proposed. Consequently, information campaigns focusing on pro-environmental behavior are recommended to raise public awareness about marine environmental problems and at the same time explicitly refer to concrete possible actions. The findings indicate that when only awareness and concern are raised without mentioning a concrete action, PCE might even decrease and render the communication effort ineffective.
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: silke.jacobs@ugent.be.
Silke
S
Jacobs
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Isabelle
I
Sioen
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Stefaan
S
De Henauw
Department of Data Analysis, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Yves
Y
Rosseel
AquaTT, Unit 3, Olympic House, Pleasants Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
Tanja
T
Calis
Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
Alice
A
Tediosi
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Martí
M
Nadal
Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, I.P. (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasilia, 1449-006, Lisbon, Portugal.
António
A
Marques
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Wim
W
Verbeke
D001364:Awareness; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011639:Public Opinion; D017747:Seafood / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Marine environment; Perceived Consumer Effectiveness (PCE); Pollution; Pro-environmental behavior; Structural Equation Modeling (SEM); Survey