Impact of perceived environmental restorativeness on tourists' pro-environmental behavior: Examining the mediation of place attachment and the moderation of ecocentrism

Guided by attention restoration theory and stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory, we developed an integrated model to investigate the impact of perceived environmental restoration on forest park visitors' pro environmental behavior through the mediation of place attachment. We further tested the moderating role of eco-centrism to provide theoretical and practical implications for the sustainability of tourism destinations and positive human-nature interactions. Using a sample of 504 visitors to a national forest park in China, our study indicated all three dimensions of environmental restorative perception (compatibility, extent, and away) positively influenced place attachment. Place attachment promoted pro-environmental behavior. Place attachment was an important mediator of the relationship between environmental restorative perceptions (compatibility, extent, and away) and pro-environmental behavior. Eco-centrism has no moderating effect.

Automated summary

This study developed an integrated model based on attention restoration theory and stimulus-organism-response theory to investigate the impact of perceived environmental restoration on forest park visitors' pro-environmental behavior, mediated by place attachment. The study also tested the moderating role of eco-centrism. The findings indicated that all three dimensions of environmental restorative perception positively influenced place attachment, which in turn promoted pro-environmental behavior. Eco-centrism was found to have no moderating effect.