We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Predictive Power of Goal-striving Reasons for Self-reported and Actual Plastic Consumption
AI summary Read the abstract
This psychology study examined whether people's reasons for reducing plastic use can predict their actual plastic consumption behavior. Understanding the psychological drivers of plastic reduction could inform more effective public communication campaigns about microplastic pollution.
Background: Plastic waste is a major societal and environmental issue contributing to climate change as well as affecting the health of humans and animals across the globe. Tackling plastic pollution requires dramatic change from everyone because one of the key factors contributing to the amount of plastic waste is consumer behaviour. Objective: The aim of this research is to test the predictive power of the goal-striving reasons framework for plastic waste behaviour of UK households to analyse whether the reasons why people voluntarily engage in plastic reducing actions can predict plastic consumption of households. Method: The predictive power of the goal-striving reasons framework was tested by correlating the overall goal-striving reasons index and, each goal of the six goal-striving reasons individually, with i) a newly developed self-report measure of plastic consumption and; ii) with an objective measure of plastic waste. The objective measure required households to count their plastic waste for three consecutive weeks. The study is based on N = 66 households in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Results: Findings suggest that the approach goal-striving reasons of pleasure, altruism and positive consequences are related to self-reported plastic waste whereas the two avoidance reasons of not wanting to feel bad about oneself or to avoid any negative consequences are related to objective plastic waste. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the relevance of the goal-striving reasons framework as an important concept for the prediction of plastic waste behaviour of individuals, and as a potential tool for facilitating change behaviour in household plastic waste consumption.
More Papers Like This
Exploring the psychological antecedents of private and public sphere behaviours to reduce household plastic consumption
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed 648 people to understand what psychological factors drive different plastic-reduction behaviors — switching to plastic-free products, political activism, and supporting policy. Personal moral norms predicted all three types of action, while feeling personally capable was the strongest driver of purchase decisions, suggesting that reducing plastic use requires addressing both values and practical barriers.
Extending the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the issue of microplastics in the marine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers extended the theory of planned behaviour to investigate public attitudes toward marine microplastic pollution, finding that environmental awareness and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted consumers' intentions to reduce microplastic-generating product use.
Single-use plastics consumption among university students in Morocco: applied theory of planned behavior and the transtheoretical model
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed Moroccan university students about their attitudes toward single-use plastics (think water bottles, bags, utensils) and found that believing you're capable of cutting back—combined with actually thinking about making the change—were the strongest predictors of actually reducing plastic use. This matters because single-use plastics break down into microplastics that contaminate our food, water, and even our bodies, so understanding what motivates people to use less of it could help shape more effective public health campaigns and policies aimed at reducing our collective plastic exposure.
Analyzing the Sociodemographic and Psychological Factors Influencing the Intention to Consume Single-Use Plastics Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined sociodemographic and psychological factors influencing single-use plastic consumption intentions among 125 Indonesian university students, finding that age, education level, and economic status all significantly predicted behavior, while personal beliefs were the dominant psychological predictor — integrating Theory of Planned Behaviour and Value-Belief-Norm frameworks.
A systematic literature review and future research agenda on the reducing single use plastic in the context of consumer intention
AI summary Read the abstract
This review study looked at nearly a decade of research on why people do (or don't) cut back on single-use plastics like bags, bottles, and takeout containers. The findings show that reducing plastic waste isn't just about willpower—it depends on how available alternatives are, store and restaurant policies, and how people perceive the problem in their daily lives. This matters because less plastic waste means less of it breaking down into microplastics that end up in our water, food, and eventually our bodies, so understanding what actually changes behavior could help design better policies and habits that protect both the environment and our health.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.