Abstract
Amid escalating global drought concerns and the imperative of water-saving practices, this 2022 methodological study in the southwest and central regions of Iran, involving 287 participants, employed structural equation modeling to investigate correlates of pro-water conservation behaviors using a validated TPB questionnaire. Findings revealed that attitudes positively influenced intentions (p < 0.05), subjective norms had dual effects on intentions and perceived control (p < 0.05), and perceived behavioral control positively impacted both intentions and behavior (p < 0.05), yet intentions did not significantly predict behavior (p > 0.05). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated favorable fit indices for TPB (CMin/df = 1.59, RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95) and SEM models (CMin/df = 1.58, RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91), reaffirming the model's validity. The Theory of Planned Behavior offers a potent framework for shaping water-conservation efforts, emphasizing attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the disparities that may exist between intentions and actual behaviors in conserving water.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Araban M, upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- TPB :
-
Theory of Planned Behavior
- SEM :
-
Structural Equation Modeling
- CFA :
-
Confirmatory Factor Analysis
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Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the participants of the study. An ethical license was obtained from the ethics committee of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences with the code IR.AJUMS.REC.1400.681.
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Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran funded this study.
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MA designed the study and oversaw all elements of the study implementation, analysis, and write-up. All other authors assisted in the conducting, analysis, and write-up of the study. ACL predominantly focused on reviewing analysis and writing up the entire manuscript. All authors also read and approved the final manuscript.
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The Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran approved the study (IR.AJUMS.REC.1400.680).
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Highlights
• Projections indicate that by 2050, more than 50 countries worldwide will grapple with freshwater shortages.
• A good model fit affirms the TPB's relevance in water conservation endeavors.
• The newfound positive link between subjective norms and PBC represents an unanticipated pathway in the model, diverging from its original developers' assumptions.
• Perceived behavioral control significantly influences intentions and behavior (p < 0.05).
• The article discusses pro-water conservation behavior change and educational methodologies.
During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used ChatGPT to improve spelling and grammar within the manuscript. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.
Anthony Coetzer-Liversage, Azadeh Fatehpanah, Elham Maraghi, and Mahmood Karimy are equally first authorship.
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Appendix
Appendix
1.1 Water Questionnaire
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Coetzer-Liversage, A., Fatehpanah, A., Maraghi, E. et al. Modeling Predictors of Water Conservation-Friendly Behavior Among the General Public: Structural Equation Modeling. Water Resour Manage 38, 2711–2730 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-024-03775-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-024-03775-2