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University Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to Marine Environment Pollution

Author

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  • Yongtao Gan

    (Institute of Higher Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Jian Gao

    (Institute of Higher Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Jiahao Zhang

    (Institute of Higher Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Xia Wu

    (Institute of Higher Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Tian Zhang

    (Institute of Higher Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Mengjun Shao

    (Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China)

Abstract

Recent research on marine environment pollution (MEP) has primarily focused on legislative and market-based instruments rather than on understanding related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Within this context, we used a survey of university students in China to investigate attitudes and behaviors related to MEP. Specifically, we employed a tri-component attitude model to analyze questionnaire data from 446 randomly selected students. Our results indicate that participants had a good knowledge of MEP. Furthermore, our data revealed the following three MEP-related attitudinal clusters: activists, supporters, and onlookers. Activists showed negative attitudes toward MEP with strong anti–MEP behaviors. Supporters also had negative attitudes toward MEP but performed less anti–MEP behaviors. Finally, onlookers exhibited indifferent attitudes with neutral MEP-related behaviors. Each of the three attitudinal clusters varied according to the demographic characteristics of the participants. The implications of these results on the reduction in MEP were discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongtao Gan & Jian Gao & Jiahao Zhang & Xia Wu & Tian Zhang & Mengjun Shao, 2022. "University Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to Marine Environment Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16671-:d:1000584
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    References listed on IDEAS

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