The interplay of emotional intelligence and personality in shaping environmental awareness and behavior: A cross-sectional study of east coast communities, Malaysia
Environment and Social Psychology, cilt.10, sa.5, 2025 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.59429/esp.v10i5.3706
- Dergi Adı: Environment and Social Psychology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: coastal population, emotional intelligence, environmental awareness, environmental behavior, personality, structural equation modeling
- Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction: This study aims to investigate the complex interrelationships between emotional intelligence (EI), personality traits, environmental awareness, and environmental behaviors in coastal communities of Malaysia. The research objectives encompass examining direct effects and mediating relationships among these psychological factors and environmental outcomes. Methodology: Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 285 respondents through questionnaires measuring EI, personality, environmental awareness, and environmental behavior. The analysis utilized SmartPLS for structural equation modeling, with a focus on measurement validation and hypothesis testing through bootstrapping techniques. Results: Findings revealed significant positive relationships across multiple pathways: EI demonstrated strong correlations with personality, environmental awareness, and environmental behavior, while personality exhibited positive effects on both environmental awareness and behavior. The study confirmed personality’s mediating role between EI and environmental variables, with significant indirect effects on awareness and behavior. Discussion: These results underscore the crucial role of psychological factors in shaping environmental consciousness and behavior. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive examination of the interplay between emotional and personality factors in the context of environmental attitudes and behaviors, specifically within coastal communities. This study improves upon existing literature by integrating EI into the framework of environmental psychology and highlighting its indirect effects through personality traits. The findings suggest that environmental education programs should incorporate both emotional intelligence and personality considerations when designing interventions to promote sustainable practices in coastal areas, offering a more nuanced approach to environmental conservation efforts.