Personal protective equipment waste management behavior of undergraduates in Xi'an City based on extended theory of value-identity-personal norm model.

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-

COVID-19*/epidemiology ; COVID-19*/prevention & control ; Waste Management*; Humans ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's lives, with the most prominent change being the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In this study, we used the extended Value-Identity-Personal (VIP) norm model to empirically analyze the influencing factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior (PEB) among college students in Xi 'an, China, while considering the usage of PPE as an example of PEB. We proposed nine hypothetical questions, and the VIP model was established through the SmartPLS software to test the valid questionnaires of 414 college students. The verification results indicated that all the nine hypotheses were supported statistically, with personal environmental social responsibility and personal norms showing the most significant direct impact on PEB; notably, personal norms were also strongly influenced by environmental personal social responsibility. Biosphere values affected PEB indirectly, through self-identity and individual norms. This study proposes viable countermeasures and suggestions for college students to improve PEB; our findings can serve as a reference for policymakers and stakeholders to ensure the effective waste management of personal safety equipment.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)

Kutralam-Muniasamy, G., Pérez-Guevara, F. & Shruti, V. C. A critical synthesis of current peer-reviewed literature on the environmental and human health impacts of COVID-19 PPE litter: New findings and next steps. J. Hazard. Mater. 422, 126945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126945 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.12694534449351)
Ben Mohamed, H., Gabriel, E., Rida Abelouah, M., Hajji, S. & Ait Alla, A. Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution associated with the COVID-19 pandemic along the coastline of Agadir. Morocco. Sci. Total Environ. 798, 149282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149282 (2021). (PMID: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149282)
Kutralam-Muniasamy, G. & Shruti, V. C. The case of “public congregation vs. COVID-19 PPE pollution”: Evidence, lessons, and recommendations from the annual pilgrimage to the Catholic Holy Site in Mexico City, Mexico. Sci. Total Environ. 821, 153424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153424 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153424350909279754081)
Hassan, I. A. et al. Contamination of the marine environment in Egypt and Saudi Arabia with personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic: A short focus. Sci. Total Environ. 810, 152046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152046 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.15204634856280)
Jain, S., Yadav Lamba, B. Y., Kumar, S. & Singh, D. Strategy for repurposing of disposed PPE kits by production of biofuel: Pressing priority amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Biofuels 13, 545–549. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2020.1797350 (2022). (PMID: 10.1080/17597269.2020.1797350)
Singh Siwal, S. et al. Key ingredients and recycling strategy of personal protective equipment (PPE): Towards sustainable solution for the COVID-19 like pandemics. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 10, 6284–106284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.106284 (2021). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.106284)
Rowan, N. J. & Laffey, J. G. Unlocking the surge in demand for personal and protective equipment (PPE) and improvised face coverings arising from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: Implications for efficacy, re-use and sustainable waste management. Sci. Total Environ. 752, 142259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142259 (2021). (PMID: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.14225933207488)
Santos-Rosales, V. et al. Supercritical CO2 sterilization: An effective treatment to reprocess FFP3 face masks and to reduce waste during COVID-19 pandemic. Sci. Total Environ. 826, 154089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154089 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154089352188428864888)
Tan, M. G. et al. Effective disinfecting of protective devices used in the course of treating SARS-CoV2-positive patients. J. Infect. Prev. 23, 20–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/17571774211033350 (2022). (PMID: 10.1177/1757177421103335035126677)
Yuriev, A., Dahmen, M., Paillé, P., Boiral, O. & Guillaumie, L. Pro-environmental behaviors through the lens of the theory of planned behavior: A scoping review. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 155, 0921–3449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104660 (2020). (PMID: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104660)
De Leeuw, A., Valois, P., Ajzen, I. & Schmidt, P. Using the theory of planned behavior to identify key beliefs underlying pro-environmental behavior in high-school students: Implications for educational interventions. J. Environ. Psychol. 42, 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.03.005 (2015). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.03.005)
Esfandiar, K., Pearce, J., Dowling, R. & Goh, E. Pro-environmental behaviours in protected areas: A systematic literature review and future research directions. Tourism Manag. Perspect. 41, 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100943 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100943)
Cao, H., Li, F., Zhao, K., Qian, C. & Xiang, T. From value perception to behavioural intention: Study of Chinese smallholders’ pro-environmental agricultural practices. J. Environ. Manag. 315, 115179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115179 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115179)
Lou, S., Zhang, X. & Zhang, D. What influences urban residents’ intention to sort waste?: Introducing Taoist cultural values into TPB. J. Cleaner Prod. 371, 133540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133540 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133540)
Razali, F., Daud, D., Weng-Wai, C. & Anthony Jiram, W. R. Waste separation at source behaviour among Malaysian households: The Theory of Planned Behaviour with moral norm. J. Cleaner Prod. 271, 122025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122025 (2020). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122025)
Hidalgo-Crespo, J. et al. Understanding citizens’ environmental concern and their pro-environmental behaviours and attitudes and their influence on energy use. Energy Rep. 8, 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.01.116 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.egyr.2022.01.116)
Van der Werff, E. & Steg, L. The psychology of participation and interest in smart energy systems: Comparing the value-belief-norm theory and the value-identity-personal norm model. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 22, 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.08.022 (2016). (PMID: 10.1016/j.erss.2016.08.022)
Yin, Z., Ma, J., Liu, Y., He, J. & Guo, Z. New pathway exploring the effectiveness of waste recycling policy: A quasi-experiment on the effects of perceived policy effectiveness. J. Cleaner Prod. 363, 132569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132569 (2022). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132569)
Warne, C. E. The influence of ethical and social responsibilities on advertising and selling practices. Am. Econ. Rev. 51, 527–548 (1961).
Zulfiqar, S., Sadaf, R., Popp, J., Vveinhardt, J. & Máté, D. An examination of corporate social responsibility and employee behavior: The case of Pakistan. Sustainability. 11, 3515. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133515 (2019). (PMID: 10.3390/su11133515)
Stern, P. C., Dietz, T. & Kalof, L. Value orientations, gender, and environmental concern. Environ. Behav. 25, 322–348 (1993). (PMID: 10.1177/0013916593255002)
Perlaviciute, G. & Steg, L. The influence of values on evaluations of energy alternatives. Renew. Energy. 77, 259–267 (2015). (PMID: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.12.020)
Nguyen, T. N., Lobo, A. & Greenland, S. Pro-environmental purchase behaviour: The role of consumers’ biospheric values. J. Retail. Consum. Serv. 33, 98–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.08.010 (2016). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.08.010)
Van der Werff, E., Steg, L. & Keizer, K. The value of environmental self-identity: The relationship between biospheric values, environmental self-identity and environmental preferences, intentions and behaviour. J. Environ. Psychol. 34, 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.12.006 (2013). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.12.006)
Ali, I. & Mandurah, S. The role of personal values and perceived social support in developing socially responsible consumer behavior. Asian Soc. Sci. 12, 180–189. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n10p180 (2016). (PMID: 10.5539/ass.v12n10p180)
Chan, H. W., Pong, V. & Tam, K. P. Explaining participation in Earth Hour: The identity perspective and the theory of planned behavior. Clim. Change. 158, 309–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02554-y (2020). (PMID: 10.1007/s10584-019-02554-y)
Schwartz, S. H. Normative influences on altruism. Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 10, 221–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60358-5 (1977). (PMID: 10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60358-5)
Misener, K., Morrison, K. A., Shier, M. L. & Babiak, K. The influence of organizational social responsibility on involvement behavior in community sport membership associations. Nonprofit Manag. Leadersh. 30, 591–611. https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21406 (2020). (PMID: 10.1002/nml.21406)
Shah, S. H. A., Cheema, S., Al-Ghazali, B. M., Ali, M. & Rafiq, N. Perceived corporate social responsibility and pro-environmental behaviors: The role of organizational identification and coworker pro-environmental advocacy. Corp. Soc. Respons. Environ. Manag. 28, 366–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2054 (2021). (PMID: 10.1002/csr.2054)
Baron, R. M. & Kenny, D. A. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 51, 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173 (1986). (PMID: 10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.11733806354)
Tabachnick, B.G. & Fidell, L. S. Chapter 13 in Using Multivariate Statistics (7th ed.) (ed. Tabachnick, B. G., Fidell, L. S.) 476–527 (Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education, 2019).
Minglong, W. Chapter 6 in Practice of Statistical Analysis of Questionnaires: SPSS Operation and Application (ed. Minglong, W) 207–208 (Chongqing University Press, 2010).
Wong, K. K. -K. Chapter 3 in Mastering Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (Pls-Sem) with Smartpls in 38 Hours (ed. Wong, K.K.-K.) 14–25 (iUniverse Press, 2019).
Ateş, H. Merging theory of planned behavior and value identity personal norm model to explain pro-environmental behaviors. Sustain. Prod. Consumption. 24, 169–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.07.006 (2020). (PMID: 10.1016/j.spc.2020.07.006)
Balundė, A., Perlaviciute, G. & Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, I. Sustainability in youth: Environmental considerations in adolescence and their relationship to pro-environmental behavior. Front. Psychol. 11, 582920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582920 (2020). (PMID: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582920332240737667260)
Bouman, T. et al. When worry about climate change leads to climate action: How values, worry and personal responsibility relate to various climate actions. Glob. Environ. Change. 62, 102061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102061 (2020). (PMID: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102061)
Verma, V. K., Chandra, B. & Kumar, S. Values and ascribed responsibility to predict consumers’ attitude and concern towards green hotel visit intention. J. Bus. Res. 96, 206–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.021 (2019). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.11.021)
Lee, S., Park, H., Kim, K. H. & Lee, C. A moderator of destination social responsibility for tourists’ pro-environmental behaviors in the VIP model. J. Destination Mark. Manag. 20, 100610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100610 (2021). (PMID: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2021.100610)
Xie, M., Luo, J. & He, L. Chemistry teaching based on model cognition and cultivation of social responsibility: Taking “Development and Utilization of Metallic Minerals” as an example. Che. Tea. 408, 38–44. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1005-6629.2021.03.008 (2021). (PMID: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-6629.2021.03.008)

Date Created: 20230710 Date Completed: 20230712 Latest Revision: 20230718

20240628

PMC10333336

10.1038/s41598-023-36534-1

37429955