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Pro-Environmental Sustainability and Political Affiliation: An Examination of USA College Sport Sustainability Efforts

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  • Jonathan M. Casper

    (Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA)

  • Brian P. McCullough

    (Health & Kinesiology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Danielle M. Kushner Smith

    (Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Political ideology is one of the most powerful predictors of perceptions about environmental sustainability and related behaviors. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sport fans’ sustainability-specific values, perceptions, and norms related to awareness, engagement, and influence of USA collegiate sport sustainability efforts based on political affiliation, accounting for age and gender. Data were collected using an online survey distributed to season ticket holders after the 2019 college football season that featured three sponsored sustainability initiatives at each home game. Multivariate analysis of variance and chi-square difference tests found that self-identified Democrats reported significantly higher pro-environmental values and norms, but sustainability program engagement, sponsored initiatives awareness, and influence of initiatives on behavior were politically neutral. Path analysis found that ascription of responsibility was a significant predictor of sustainability-related engagement and behaviors for both Independents and Republicans. The results and discussion sections highlight how academics and practitioners can account for political affiliation when creating campaign messaging for environmental initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan M. Casper & Brian P. McCullough & Danielle M. Kushner Smith, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Sustainability and Political Affiliation: An Examination of USA College Sport Sustainability Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5840-:d:565020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guillermo Morán-Gámez & Antonio Fernández-Martínez & Rui Biscaia & Román Nuviala, 2024. "Measuring Green Practices in Sport: Development and Validation of a Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Georgia Lagoudaki & Efi Tsitskari & Thomas Karagiorgos & Georgia Yfantidou & George Tzetzis & George Tsiotras, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Consumer Behavior in Sports: Exploring and Adapting a Participatory Sports Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Meriç Eraslan & Sevim KIR & Mehmet Behzat Turan & Mujahid Iqbal, 2024. "Sustainability Consciousness and Environmental Behaviors: Examining Demographic Differences Among Sports Science Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-31, December.
    4. Brian P. McCullough & Jonathan C. Casper & Danielle M. Kushner Smith, 2022. "Fan Responses of Sponsored Environmental Sustainability Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.

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