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Feelings for the suffering of others: Do peers influence pro-environmental behaviour mediated by state compassion? An Experience Sampling Method Study

Tegethoff, S. (2021) Feelings for the suffering of others: Do peers influence pro-environmental behaviour mediated by state compassion? An Experience Sampling Method Study.

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Abstract:Climate change, water pollution, and biodiversity loss are just some of the environmental issues we are facing today, and the need to act pro-environmental is urgent. It is, therefore, crucial to investigate the determinants of pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). Peer influences were found to affect prosocial behaviours like PEB and also compassionate responses, however, most of the studies used cross-sectional data neglecting the fluctuating nature of emotional states like compassion and situational cues influencing our behaviour. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether peer influences predict state pro-environmental behaviour and if this association is mediated by the emotional state of compassion. The experience sampling method (ESM) with an interval-contingent design was used. The variables were measured for 8 consecutive days in a sample of N=33 participants. LMM analyses revealed that peer influences did not predict state PEB, and a Sobel test revealed that the mediation effect of state compassion on the association between peer influences and state pro-environmental behaviour was not significant. However, no pertinent conclusion can be drawn based on these null findings and more research in this field is needed as the current environmental issues pose a great threat to human survival.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/88531
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