Influence of interventions and internal motivation on Swedish homeowners’ change of on-site sewage systems
Journal article, 2013

This article reports results from a questionnaire administered to Swedish homeowners (N = 1481) investigating factors that influence them, as users and owners of on-site sewage systems (OSS), to environmentally improve their OSS. Social and psychological factors were based on previous research into pro-environmental and compliance behaviors and a previous interview study. The results suggest that the most important motives are to benefit, to act when outcomes are fair, and to avoid inconvenience. Less important motives are to act when outcomes are fair and to act of concern for the environment. Perceived efficacy in decreasing the environmental impacts of current OSS, when the OSS is changed, and perceived ability to change their OSS are also among the strongest predictors of readiness to change OSS. However, among homeowners who changed their OSS to do ones duty and achieve long-term safety were ranked highest. The results support the expectations of goal-framing theory that motives related to “gain” would be focal in situations of unfavorable cost–benefit ratios. Similarly, the importance of fair outcomes and efficacious rules is consistent with general findings in research on social dilemmas.

Multiple regression analysis

Goal-framing theory

Small-scale wastewater treatment

Principal component analysis

Regulatory compliance

Eutrophication

Author

Are Wallin

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Mathias Zannakis

University of Gothenburg

Lars-Olof Johansson

University of Gothenburg

Sverker Molander

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

09213449 (ISSN) 18790658 (eISSN)

Vol. 76 July 2013 27-40

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Water Engineering

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

DOI

10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.04.004

More information

Created

10/7/2017