Unveiling the interplay between knowledge, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior about climate change in a sample of rural community-dwelling older adults: A national correlational study.

BACKGROUND

Climate change is a global health concern that affects all of humanity, but it disproportionately impacts older adults, particularly those living in rural communities. Older adults lack the ability to actively engage in pro-environmental actions aimed at adapting to and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.

AIM

To investigate the relationship between knowledge, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behavior regarding climate change, as well as to identify the factors that predict pro-environmental behavior in a sample of rural community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational research design was used with a convenience sample of 517 older adults aged 60 and above, who were recruited from the post offices of the National Post Authority in Minya Governorate, Egypt. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, a Climate Change Knowledge Questionnaire, the Environmental Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE), and the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS).

RESULTS

A highly statistically significant positive relationship between climate change knowledge, environmental self-efficacy and pro-environmental behavior (r = 0.412, P=.000; r = 0.392P=.000 & r = 0.720, P=.000 respectively) was reported. As well as, climate change knowledge and environmental self-efficacy were predictors of high pro-environmental behavior scores (P=.00, R = 0.785; R=0.617; Adjusted R=0.615; F = 413.289).

CONCLUSION

Integrating climate change education into Egypt's sustainable development goals is essential for fostering older adults' environmental self-efficacy, which in turn promotes climate change activism among older people in rural communities.