Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Waste Separation Drivers in Urban Centers Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model

Not relevant to microplastics — this study uses behavioral theory to identify what motivates residents of Balikpapan, Indonesia to separate household waste, finding that accessible facilities and past behavior are the strongest drivers, with no direct connection to microplastic research.

2024 Indonesian Journal of Computing Engineering and Design (IJoCED) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors Influencing Urban Residents’ Intention of Garbage Sorting in China: An Extended TPB by Integrating Expectancy Theory and Norm Activation Model

Researchers extended the Theory of Planned Behavior with expectancy theory and norm activation to identify factors driving urban residents' intention to sort garbage in China, finding that subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and personal moral norms were the strongest predictors.

2021 Sustainability 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Uncovering hidden determinants of millennial farmers’ intentions in running conservation agriculture: An application of the Norm Activation Model

Not relevant to microplastics — this study applies the Norm Activation Model to understand why millennial farmers in Central Java, Indonesia do or do not adopt conservation practices on degraded mountain agricultural land.

2024 Open Agriculture 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Pencemaran Mikroplastik di Sungai: Suatu Tinjauan Sosiologis Terhadap Perilaku Menyimpang Pengelolaan Sampah Di Masyarakat

This Indonesian-language study examined microplastic contamination in rivers through a sociological lens, analyzing how deviant waste disposal behavior by the public contributes to increasing microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. The research connected individual behavioral patterns and social norms around waste management to microplastic accumulation in Indonesian river systems.

2024 Dynamics of Rural Society Journal
Article Tier 2

Why is there plastic packaging in the natural environment? Understanding the roots of our individual plastic waste management behaviours

This review explores why individuals mismanage plastic packaging waste, finding that the disconnect between discarding behavior and its visible consequences is a key factor, as is the deep historical rootedness of waste disposal habits in different cultures. The authors argue that policies to reduce plastic littering face fundamental behavioral constraints that require approaches beyond simple regulation.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 170 citations
Article Tier 2

Extending the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the issue of microplastics in the marine environment

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.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 25 citations
Article Tier 2

On the way to reduce marine microplastics pollution. Research landscape of psychosocial drivers

A review of psychosocial drivers of marine plastic pollution found that factors including consumer convenience preferences, low perceived personal responsibility, and weak norm activation explain why behavioral change around plastic use is slow, and that interventions combining social norms messaging with structural changes show the most promise.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Using an extended model of the reasoned action approach to explore individual behavioral intentions regarding litter and plastic pollution prevention in a developing country

This study explored what motivates people in Ghana to prevent littering and plastic pollution, using a behavioral psychology framework. Researchers found that personal attitudes and moral beliefs were the strongest predictors of people's intentions to reduce littering, suggesting that public campaigns targeting these factors could be most effective.

2024 Frontiers in Psychology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Awareness of Consequences in Predicting the Local Tourists’ Plastic Waste Reduction Behavioral Intention: The Extension of Planned Behavior Theory

Researchers surveyed local tourists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to understand what drives intentions to reduce plastic waste on beaches. The study found that awareness of environmental consequences, social norms, and perceived behavioral control all positively influenced intentions to reduce plastic waste. Interestingly, personal attitude alone was not a significant predictor, suggesting that community influence and awareness campaigns may be more effective than individual mindset shifts.

2024 Sustainability 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the environmental perception of the users over solid residues on the beach of Tamandaré/Brazil

This Brazilian study surveyed beach users at Tamandaré beach about their awareness of solid waste pollution and waste disposal behaviors. Most users acknowledged the environmental problem of beach litter, but disposal habits did not always match awareness levels. Understanding public environmental perception is important for designing effective campaigns to reduce beach plastic pollution and microplastic generation.

2021 Research Society and Development 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Explicitly and Implicitly Measured Valence and Risk Attitudes Towards Plastic Packaging, Plastic Waste, and Microplastic in a German Sample

This psychology study measured both explicit and implicit attitudes toward plastic packaging and microplastics in German consumers, finding that people simultaneously appreciate the convenience of plastic while expressing concern about pollution. The gap between attitudes and behavior helps explain why plastic consumption continues despite public concern about microplastics.

2021 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Using Factor Analysis to Understand the Influence of Individual Perception on Plastic Waste Disposal

Researchers used factor analysis to identify the key influences on plastic waste disposal behavior among 360 randomly selected residents in three districts of Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The most influential factors were inadequate municipal waste collection and lack of education (factor loadings of 0.84 and 0.82), followed by perceptions of plastic durability, distance to disposal infrastructure, and weak regulatory enforcement.

2022 Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Differences and InfluencingFactors of Public Participation in EnvironmentalProtection Behavior in the Private and PublicSpheres in China

Not relevant to microplastics — this sociological study analyzes factors influencing Chinese citizens' environmental protection behaviors in public and private spheres, using 2013 national survey data.

2023 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Plastics and Microplastics Pollution: Implications for Vietnam

This Vietnamese study applied the Theory of Planned Behavior to survey students' attitudes and intentions regarding plastic and microplastic pollution. Attitude was the strongest predictor of pro-environmental behavioral intention (β=0.411), suggesting that awareness and attitude change through education are more effective levers than appeals to subjective norms.

2025 VNU Journal of Science Legal Studies
Article Tier 2

Recycling Intentions Among Karachi's University Students: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach Considering Convenience and Consumer Innovativeness

Despite its title referencing packaging and recycling, this paper studies consumer recycling behavior among university students in Karachi, Pakistan — not microplastic pollution. It applies the Theory of Planned Behavior and Diffusion of Innovation theory to understand what drives recycling intentions, and is not directly relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Electronic Green Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Public perception of microplastics pollution in Switzerland: Psychological distance, concern, and willingness to engage in mitigation activities

Researchers surveyed over 900 people in Switzerland to understand how the public perceives microplastic pollution and their willingness to take action. The study found that people perceive microplastics as a relatively close threat on most psychological dimensions, and that concern about the issue, particularly concern for nature, is a stronger predictor of willingness to engage in mitigation activities than psychological distance alone.

2026
Article Tier 2

Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Perilaku Pengunjung dalam Membuang Sampah di Pantai Lampu Satu Kabupaten Merauke Papua

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it is a cross-sectional study examining factors — such as knowledge, attitude, gender, and age — that influence whether beach visitors in Papua, Indonesia properly dispose of their rubbish.

2023 Syntax Literate Jurnal Ilmiah Indonesia
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Seeking and Processing Environmental Information Related to Microplastics on Pro-environmental Behavior Intentions : Focusing on the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model (RISP)

Researchers applied the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model to examine how seeking and processing microplastic-related environmental information influences pro-environmental behavior intentions, finding that subjective norms around information were more predictive than negative emotions or perceived information insufficiency.

2024 Korean Journal of Broadcasting and Telecommunication Studies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Sociodemographic factors and feelings of guilt in household waste management in Peruvian households

This paper is not about microplastics — it examines how sociodemographic factors such as age, income, and education influence feelings of guilt around household waste recycling in Peruvian families.

2024 International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Smokers’ Attitude and Behavior towards Cigarette Littering in Romania: A Survey-Based Approach

A survey-based study analyzed smokers' attitudes and behaviors toward cigarette butt littering in Romania, finding that despite awareness of the problem, littering behavior remains widespread. The study identifies psychological factors and social norms that sustain cigarette butt littering and suggests targeted behavioral interventions.

2023 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the psychological antecedents of private and public sphere behaviours to reduce household plastic consumption

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.

2022 Environment Development and Sustainability 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and perception on microplastic pollution: a comparison between residents in Temerloh living in urban and rural areas

Researchers surveyed urban and rural residents of Temerloh, Malaysia, on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of microplastic pollution, finding gaps in awareness that contribute to poor waste management behaviours and ongoing environmental contamination.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in personal care products: Exploring public intention of usage by extending the theory of planned behaviour

Researchers applied an extended theory of planned behavior to understand public attitudes toward using personal care products containing microplastic beads. The study found that environmental awareness, health concerns, and social norms significantly influenced consumers' intentions to reduce their use of products containing microplastics.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Role of Tourists and Impact of Knowledge, Behaviour, and Attitude Towards Plastic Waste Generation

Researchers surveyed tourists to assess how their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence plastic waste generation at outdoor recreation sites, finding that awareness gaps drive littering and that circular economy approaches could convert tourist-generated waste into local economic opportunity.

2022 Circular Economy and Sustainability 21 citations