EFFECT OF REGION AND GENDER DIFFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Keywords:
Environmental Behaviour, Region, Gender, Junior College Students, AdolescentsAbstract
Research Background: Environmental behaviour among adolescents is a critical area of research, as human actions significantly influence the physical and social environment. Understanding how factors such as region and gender affect pro-environmental behaviour can inform strategies to promote sustainable practices. This study focuses on junior college students, a stage where environmental education has been introduced, but worldviews and behaviour patterns are still developing. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to examine the effect of type of region on environmental behaviour, the effect of gender on environmental behaviour, and the significant interaction effect between region and gender on environmental behaviour of junior college students. Procedure: A total of 120 junior college students from Satara district were selected using purposive sampling. The type of region and type of gender were considered independent variables, while environmental behaviour was the dependent variable. A 2 × 2 factorial research design was employed. Environmental behaviour was assessed using the standardized Environment Behaviour Scale developed by Archana Singhal, Dr. Urmila Verma, and Dr. P. K. Singhal. Conclusions: The study concluded that type of region does not have a significant impact on the environmental behaviour of junior college students, with urban and rural students showing similar behaviour. Gender was also not a significant factor, as boys and girls exhibited comparable levels of environmental behaviour. Additionally, no significant interaction effect was found between region and gender, indicating that gender’s influence on environmental behaviour is consistent across both urban and rural students.
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