Virtual Environment, Real Impacts: A Self-determination Perspective on the use of Virtual Reality for Pro-environmental Behavior Interventions

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of Proposed Hypotheses.

No.	Hypothesis
H1	Modality → Pro-environmental behavioral intention
H2	Modality → Perceived autonomy
H3	Modality → Perceived competence
H4	Modality → Perceived autonomy → Autonomous motivation → Pro-environmental behavioral intention
H5	Modality → Perceived competence → Autonomous motivation → Pro-environmental behavioral intention
H6	Modality → Environmental self-efficacy
H7	Modality → Environmental self-efficacy → Pro-environmental behavioral intention
H8	Modality → Internal environmental locus of control
H9	Modality → Internal environmental locus of control → Pro-environmental behavioral intention

Figure 1. Interactive Scenarios Presented in the VR Game.

Note: From left to right, the screenshots correspond to the dining scene, grocery shopping scene, and recycling scene.

Figure 2. Underwater Environments for Participants with Low Scores (Left), Medium Scores (Middle), and High Scores (Right).

Table 2. Zero Order Correlations.

Variable	M	SD	2	3	4	5	6	7
1. Autonomy	4.22	.65	.15	.53***	.28**	.36***	.29**	.18*
2. Competence	3.71	.69	–	.23**	.22*	.11	.17	.12
3. Autonomous Motivation	11.80	6.71	–	–	.35***	.55***	.45***	.50***
4. Self-efficacy	4.35	.67	–	–	–	.55***	.56***	.43***
5. Locus of control	4.37	.51	–	–	–	–	.56***	.51***
6. BICD	4.26	.53	–	–	–	–	–	.58***
7. BIL	4.24	.64	–	–	–	–	–	–

Note: *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

Figure 3. Serial Mediation Model with Perceived Autonomy and Autonomous Motivation as Mediators.

Note: *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Table 3. Mediation Results for the Relationship between Modality and BIL.

Mediator(s)	Indirect Effects	SE	95%CI
Perceived Autonomy → Autonomous Motivation	.12	.06	.02 –.23
Perceived Competence → Autonomous Motivation	.02	.02	−.02 –.06
Self-efficacy	.05	.04	−.03 –.14
Internal Environmental Locus of Control	.12	.09	−.04 –.30

Table 4. Mediation Results for the Relationship between Modality and BICD.

Mediator(s)	Indirect Effects	SE	95%CI
Perceived Autonomy → Autonomous Motivation	.05	.03	−.00 –.12
Perceived Competence → Autonomous Motivation	.01	.01	−.01 –.04
Self-efficacy	.09	.06	−.03 –.22
Internal Environmental Locus of Control	.12	.08	−.04 –.29

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on request.