An Exploration of the Relationship Between Social Work Students’ Awareness of Environmental Ethics and Their Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Environmental Problems

Abstract

In a changing global environment, sustaining social work as a profession necessitates comprehensive education and heightened awareness of ecocentric perspectives and environmental ethics. Based on this information, the study aims to explore the relationship between social work students’ environmental ethics awareness and their attitudes and behaviors regarding environmental issues. The study was conducted utilizing the general and relational survey model, a quantitative research methodology; the data collection was performed with an interview form consisting of the Personal Information Form, Environmental Ethics Awareness Scale, Attitude Toward Environmental Problems Scale, and Behavior Toward Environmental Problems Scale. The study comprised 461 students selected from 10 different universities offering undergraduate social work education in Türkiye, employing the purposive sampling technique. The data collected from the participants was analyzed using SPSS software. The study findings reveal that the environmental ethics awareness and attitudes of social work students toward environmental problems positively impact their behaviors regarding environmental problems. In this context, heightened environmental ethics awareness and positive attitudes toward environmental problems among students correlate with increased engagement in actions addressing environmental issues. These findings emphasize the need for future studies to assess the effectiveness of environmental education curricula and conduct evidence-based quasi-experimental group interventions.

Keywords:

• Social work students
• environmental ethics awareness
• attitude toward environmental problems
• behavior toward environmental problems

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasemin Özkan

Yasemin Özkan is a professor in the Department of Social Work, Head of the School Social Work Practice and Research Center, and currently the chair of the Department of Social Work at Hacettepe University. Her research focuses on clinical social work, psychopathology in social work, addiction studies in social work, migration and trauma in social work, school social work, children and family welfare, family counselling, positive psychotherapy, integrative psychotherapy, evidence based practice, human behaviour and environmental studies.

Ecem Naz Nazlıer

Ecem Naz Nazlıer is a research assistant and doctoral student in the Department of Social Work at Hacettepe University. Her research interests address topics in elderly, grief and trauma, empowerment approach, Alzheimer’s disease, creative drama, group social work, and family counseling.

Fethi Anıl Mayda

Fethi Anıl Mayda is a research assistant and doctoral student in the Department of Social Work at Hacettepe University. His research interests include sport social work, gender studies, feminist social work, violence against children, and attachment theory.

Merve Nur Bozkurt Karalı

Merve Nur Bozkurt Karalı is a research assistant and doctoral student in the Department of Social Work at Hacettepe University. Her research interests encompass areas such as social work with families, family counseling, creative drama, and play therapy.