Sannino Marta, Galli Elisa, Zacheo Cristina, Giancola Marco
Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
Children (Basel). 2024 Dec 8;11(12):1497. doi: 10.3390/children11121497.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The environmental crisis has begun as a daily challenge for present and forthcoming generations. This scenario highlights the need to adopt many pro-environmental strategies to avoid its adverse consequences. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to comprehend the fundamental psychological and cognitive characteristics that may encourage young children to participate in Pro-Environmental Behaviours (PEBs). Previous research has explored key psychological factors like values, norms, and beliefs influencing children's pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs), but the impact of cognitive processes is still debated. This research explored the association between divergent thinking (DT) and PEBs, also addressing the potential involvement of gender.
The study involved 348 children (M = 8.78 years; SD = 1.79; range age 6-13; 174 girls) who completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Pro-Environmental Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Alternative Uses Task (AUT).
The statistical analysis indicated that gender moderates the relationship between children's DT-creativity and PEBs (B = 0.08, SE = 0.04, t = 2.05; 95% CIs [0.0033, 0.1659]), strengthening this association.
These findings yielded further evidence on the impact of cognitive processes, such as DT on PEBs, extending the knowledge regarding the critical role of gender in this intricate relationship.
背景/目标：环境危机已成为当代及后代面临的日常挑战。这种情况凸显了采取多种环保策略以避免其不利后果的必要性。因此，理解可能鼓励幼儿参与环保行为（PEBs）的基本心理和认知特征至关重要。先前的研究探讨了价值观、规范和信念等关键心理因素对儿童环保行为（PEBs）的影响，但认知过程的影响仍存在争议。本研究探讨了发散性思维（DT）与PEBs之间的关联，并探讨了性别的潜在影响。
该研究涉及348名儿童（M = 8.78岁；SD = 1.79；年龄范围6 - 13岁；174名女孩），他们完成了一份社会人口学问卷、环保行为问卷和替代用途任务（AUT）。
统计分析表明，性别调节了儿童DT创造力与PEBs之间的关系（B = 0.08，SE = 0.04，t = 2.05；95%置信区间[0.0033，0.1659]），加强了这种关联。
这些发现为认知过程（如DT对PEBs）的影响提供了进一步的证据，扩展了关于性别在这种复杂关系中的关键作用的知识。
