Two for one: achieving both pro-environmental behavior and subjective well-being by implementing environmental-hope-enhancing programs in schools

Abstract

To examine inconsistent past findings on green schools’ influences on students, a mediation model was tested for 1903 Israeli students in Grades 5-6 in 30 green and 16 non-green schools. Results indicated that green school students reported more pro-environmental behavior (PEB) and more school satisfaction compared to their peers at non-green schools. Path analysis showed that students who participated in hope-enhancing programs, regardless of school type, reported higher PEB, school’s satisfaction and positivity ratio. Finally, students’ environmental hope levels demonstrated the strongest association with self-reported levels of PEB, school satisfaction, and positivity ratio. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• green schools
• hope
• pro-environmental behavior
• positivity ratio
• school satisfaction

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Tomer Bratz for research assistance and data collection.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the ISRAEL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (grant No. 584/15). In memory of Yasmin Alkalay, who provided valuable statistical assistance.