A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals
To reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, individuals and households play a key role. Behavior change interventions to promote pro-environmental behavior in individuals are needed to reduce emissions globally. This systematic literature review aims to asses...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901927/full |
| _version_ | 1798002215435108352 |
|---|---|
| author | Henriette Rau Susanne Nicolai Susanne Stoll-Kleemann |
| author_facet | Henriette Rau Susanne Nicolai Susanne Stoll-Kleemann |
| author_sort | Henriette Rau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, individuals and households play a key role. Behavior change interventions to promote pro-environmental behavior in individuals are needed to reduce emissions globally. This systematic literature review aims to assess the a) evidence-based effectiveness of such interventions and b) the content of very successful interventions without limiting the results to specific emitting sectors or countries. Based on the “PICOS” mnemonic and PRISMA statement, a search strategy was developed, and eligibility criteria were defined. Three databases (Embase, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) were searched to retrieve and review potential literature. As a result, 54 publications from 2010 to 2021 were included in the analysis. The results show that most interventions only have small positive effects or none at all. A total of 15 very successful interventions focused on the sectors of mobility, energy, and waste and incorporated improved (infra-) structures, education, feedback, enablement or made the sustainable option the default. Six evidence-based recommendations for content, timing, and setting are deducted and given for interventions on enhancing pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In summary, although the various interventions and intervention types to promote PEB differ in their effectiveness, very successful interventions have common elements. Future research should focus on high-/low-impact and high-/low-cost behavior to develop interventions that aim at high-impact but low-cost behavior changes, or avoid low-impact but high-cost behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:48:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56ea9093630e48d8953b72504bf8f956 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:48:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-56ea9093630e48d8953b72504bf8f9562022-12-22T04:25:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-09-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.901927901927A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individualsHenriette RauSusanne NicolaiSusanne Stoll-KleemannTo reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, individuals and households play a key role. Behavior change interventions to promote pro-environmental behavior in individuals are needed to reduce emissions globally. This systematic literature review aims to assess the a) evidence-based effectiveness of such interventions and b) the content of very successful interventions without limiting the results to specific emitting sectors or countries. Based on the “PICOS” mnemonic and PRISMA statement, a search strategy was developed, and eligibility criteria were defined. Three databases (Embase, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) were searched to retrieve and review potential literature. As a result, 54 publications from 2010 to 2021 were included in the analysis. The results show that most interventions only have small positive effects or none at all. A total of 15 very successful interventions focused on the sectors of mobility, energy, and waste and incorporated improved (infra-) structures, education, feedback, enablement or made the sustainable option the default. Six evidence-based recommendations for content, timing, and setting are deducted and given for interventions on enhancing pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In summary, although the various interventions and intervention types to promote PEB differ in their effectiveness, very successful interventions have common elements. Future research should focus on high-/low-impact and high-/low-cost behavior to develop interventions that aim at high-impact but low-cost behavior changes, or avoid low-impact but high-cost behavior.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901927/fullbehavior changeinterventionpro-environmental behaviorclimate changesustainabilityenvironmental psychology |
| spellingShingle | Henriette Rau Susanne Nicolai Susanne Stoll-Kleemann A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals Frontiers in Psychology behavior change intervention pro-environmental behavior climate change sustainability environmental psychology |
| title | A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals |
| title_full | A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals |
| title_short | A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals |
| title_sort | systematic review to assess the evidence based effectiveness content and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro environmental behavior in individuals |
| topic | behavior change intervention pro-environmental behavior climate change sustainability environmental psychology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901927/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT henrietterau asystematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals AT susannenicolai asystematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals AT susannestollkleemann asystematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals AT henrietterau systematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals AT susannenicolai systematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals AT susannestollkleemann systematicreviewtoassesstheevidencebasedeffectivenesscontentandsuccessfactorsofbehaviorchangeinterventionsforenhancingproenvironmentalbehaviorinindividuals |