Examining the Influence of National Environmental Performance on Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors Relationship: a Multilevel Study Across European Countries

Understanding the relationship between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors can help in creating the most sustainable policies for the future. Drawing on theories and concepts from prominent social psychologists, as well as our own ideas, we explore not only the relationship between attitudes and behaviors but also the influence of the ecological context on this relationship. Using data from Eurobarometer 2020 and the Yale Center of Environmental Law & Policy, we analyze this complex interplay in 28 European countries through multilevel logistic regression. Multilevel modeling allows us to measure the effects of attitudes on behaviors and the influence of national ecological context on this relationship. We have found that the likelihood of engaging in environmental behaviors in countries with different ecological contexts may vary among individuals with or without pro-environmental attitudes, but this is not always the case. We have also found that specific attitudes are stronger predictors than generalized ones, and ecocentric attitudes are stronger than anthropocentric ones. In conclusion, in addition to findings and discussions, we highlight limitations and possible solutions for future research.