Factors Predicting Environmental Concern and Indifference in 13- to 16-Year-Olds

Abstract

This study examined the relative powerof sociodemographic, knowledge, and attitudinal variables in predicting environmental concem and indifference in young people, using data from a subsample of 1,089 13- to 1 6-year-olds who participated in a U.K. survey on public understanding of science. The best discriminator between environmentally concemed and indifferent young people was self-reported level of knowledge about specific environmental issues. Level of scientific knowledge and exposure to television science programs were also powerful discriminators after the social class effect was considered. In addition, attitudes toward scientific changes were a good discriminating factor, after the effects of social class and knowledge were taken into account. However, age contributed only slightly in predicting environmental concern and indifference, and sex and personal commitment to science made no significant contribution. These findings support prior researchers' assertions that views about science relate to environmental attitudes and have implications for environmental education.