Intergenerational transmission of pro-environmental behaviors: do grandparents’ environmental behaviors influence grandchildren?

Abstract

To understand the intergenerational transmission of pro-environmental behaviors within a family, we employ a nationally representative survey of young adults and their parents living within the United States. We analyze intergenerational transmission for three generations with information on children, parent, and grandparent behavior. Our findings suggest that strong relationships exist across three generations. Mediation analysis shows that parents significantly mediate the strong association between children and grandparents for most behaviors. These results imply that pro-environmental behaviors inculcated between generational dyads are robust and suggest educational efforts directed at quotidian household behaviors.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation [grant number 2014080]. We thank the reviewers and editors for extensive and constructive comments.

Disclosure statement

We confirm that there are no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to report.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the United States – Israel Binational Science Foundation [BSF Grant 2014080].

Notes on contributors

Tiana Marrese

Tiana Marrese is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research revolves around understanding how and why people engage in prosocial behavior. She is interested in exposing the underlying patterns of voluntary actions and nonprofit wage structures.

Itay Greenspan

Itay Greenspan is a Senior Lecturer at the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research focuses on the nexus of civil society, civic participation, environmental behavior of individuals and families from a comparative perspective, and organized environmentalism. His current research examines the role of NGOs in localizing climate change adaptations.

Tally Katz-Gerro

Tally Katz-Gerro is a professor of Sociology at the University of Haifa. Her areas of research include environmental attitudes and behaviors, household sustainability practices, cultural consumption, and comparative research.

Femida Handy

Femida Handy is a professor of nonprofit studies at the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. An economist by training, her work encompasses the economics of the nonprofit sector, volunteering, philanthropy, nonprofit management, environmental issues, and social entrepreneurship.