Self-affirmation theory and pro-environmental behaviour: Promoting a reduction in household food waste. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Graham-Rowe, Ella; Jessop, Donna C.; Sparks, Paul
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental psychology. Volume 62(2019)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Self-affirmation theory -- Behaviour change -- Food waste -- Pro-environmental behaviour -- Sustainability; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.02.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4944

Abstract

Abstract: Household food waste has a significant detrimental impact on the environment. However, despite national campaigns, people in high income countries throw away a sizeable proportion of the food they purchase. The present study investigated whether self-affirmation could promote openness to information detailing the negative consequences of household food waste, with a particular focus on fruit and vegetable waste. Participants ( N = 362) completed either a standard self-affirmation manipulation, an integrated self-affirmation manipulation or a control task before reading the information and completing a series of measures assessing cognitive antecedents of behaviour. Household fruit and vegetable waste was self-reported one-week later. Compared to their non-affirmed counterparts, participants in the standard self-affirmation condition wasted less fruit and vegetables at follow-up. The findings suggest that self-affirmation has the potential to promote engagement with pro-environmental behaviour. Research should continue to explore how to integrate self-affirmation successfully within pro-environmental campaigns. Highlights: A standard self-affirmation manipulation resulted in less food waste at follow-up. Benefits of self-affirmation were most apparent for those initially wasting more food. A brief, integrated self-affirmation task did not affect food waste behaviour. Standard self-affirmations may help promote pro-environmental behaviour.