Mothers' influence on the development of their children's environmental consciousness and environment-conscious behavior

Abstract

The present study examines the influence of mothers' environmental consciousness and environment-conscious behavior on their children from the point of view of socialization. Data were collected from mothers and their children via special on-line equipment that enabled participants to send in answers from their homes. Children participating included junior and senior high school students (141), students in higher education (66), and unmarried adults living with their parents (66). Multiple regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted to explain the children's environmental consciousness on a general scale of environment-conscious behavior and 13 specific environment-conscious behaviors. The findings were: (1) the extent of the mother's environmental consciousness was a significant explanation for the child's level of environmental consciousness ; (2) the extent of the mother's environment-conscious behavior was also a significant explanation for the extent of her child's behavior ; (3) the validity of the model was improved by adding mother-related variables ; (4) mother-related variables were most effective in the logistic analysis of 10 of the 13 types of environment-conscious behaviors included in the study. Environment-conscious behavior was most frequently practiced by children when their mothers not only practiced it themselves, but also requested their family members to do so. The influence of mother-related variables was greater for children who were university students or adults than for those who were in junior or senior high school.