Young People and Nature: What Drives Underlying Behavioural Intentions towards Protected Areas Conservation?

This paper investigates university students' motivations in nature park conservation, an area that has received limited research attention compared to other pro-environmental behaviours. By formulating a set of research hypotheses, an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour is employed to examine the determinants of university students' intentions to engage in nature park conservation. Structural equation modelling is conducted using survey data collected from university students in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. The results show that attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and personal moral norms directly and positively influence university students' intentions to undertake nature park preservation actions. Subjective norms indirectly influence behavioural intentions through attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and personal moral norms. Moreover, the findings reveal that university students with nature-oriented altruistic values exhibit a higher propensity for nature park conservation compared to their more egoistic peers. These findings have important implications for park management institutions, suggesting the need to increase awareness among young people about their potential role in preserving the environmental quality of nature parks. Collaboration between universities and nature park institutions is also crucial in providing young individuals with the necessary skills to participate in decision-making processes aligned with the principles of sustainable development.

Automated summary

This study examines the motivations of university students in nature park conservation, an area that has not been extensively researched. The researchers used an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to analyze the factors influencing students' intentions to engage in nature park conservation. The results indicate that attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and personal moral norms directly contribute to students' intentions, while subjective norms indirectly influence intentions through other factors. The findings also suggest that students with nature-oriented altruistic values are more inclined towards nature park conservation. These findings have important implications for park management institutions in terms of raising awareness among young individuals and promoting collaboration between universities and nature park institutions.