Philippine E-Journals

Environmental Attitudes, Behavior and Practices of the Filipino Elderly

Lourdes U. Agbing

Discipline: Literature, Social Science

 

Abstract:

The objectives of the study were: to find out the thoughts and feelings of the elderly towards certain environmental concerns; and to determine if individuals whose attitude is pro-environment are performing environment-related behavior, engaged in environment friendly practices, and avail of environmental information materials.

 

One hundred twenty five (125) male and female elderly, working and retired professionals who are between the ages of 50 and over 70 years, were selected as respondents.

 

The researcher developed a questionnaire consisting of 55 items on attitude towards environmental concerns. Environment-related behavior and environment-friendly practices were validated and pre-tested.

 

Generally, the elderly respondents have a positive attitude towards certain environmental concerns, perform some environment-related behavior, do environment-friendly practices and avail of different environmental materials. However, no significant differences were found between and within gender, age groups, education and job status on attitude and behavior although the mean scores of the female respondents were slightly higher than those of the males.

 

On environment-friendly practices, the mean scores of the working respondents were significantly higher than the mean scores of the retired.

 

Pearson correlations revealed that attitude mean scores correlate significantly with behavior mean scores and with the type or source of environmental materials, but not with practices. However, practices mean scores correlate with environmental materials.

 

Therefore, individuals whose attitude is pro-environment may perform environment-related behavior but not necessarily engage in environment-friendly practices.

 

In general, there is evidence of a positive relationship between ecological attitudes and environmentally protective actions (i.e. Haberlein & Black, 1976; Weigel, 1977). Respondents who scored high in attitude also performed some environment-related behavior. This is perhaps due to the measurement of attitude and behavior that may have been in the same level of generality thus, much correspondence has been found (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1977; Fishbein & Ajzen; 1975; Schuman & Johnson, 1976).