Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Analysis of Factors of Single-Use Plastic Avoidance Behavior for Environmental Sustainability in China

A structural equation modeling study of 421 Chinese respondents found that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and policy intervention significantly influenced single-use plastic avoidance behavior, mediated by behavioral intentions and plastic-related environmental concerns.

2023 Processes 17 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

Predictive Power of Goal-striving Reasons for Self-reported and Actual Plastic Consumption

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.

2021 Humanities and Social Sciences
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices towards Plastic Pollution among Malaysians

Researchers assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward plastic pollution among 294 Malaysian respondents via an online survey, using descriptive statistics, KAP scoring, and cross-tabulation to evaluate variation across sociodemographic groups. The study found that while awareness of plastic pollution was present, gaps between knowledge and actual waste reduction behavior persisted across the surveyed population.

2022 Preprints.org 1 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

Young Adults’ Intentions toward the Prevention of Microplastic Pollution in Taiwan: Examining Personality and Information Processing in Fear-Appeal Communication

A Taiwanese study examined how young adults' psychological reactance influenced their response to fear-based messaging about microplastic pollution. People with higher reactance were less persuaded by threat-focused communication and less likely to form pro-environmental intentions. The findings suggest tailoring anti-pollution campaigns to minimize defensive reactions.

2022 Sustainability 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Do attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, and perceived control behavior matter on environmentally friendly plastic purchasing intention?

This study investigated whether attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predict consumer intention to purchase environmentally friendly plastic products, using questionnaire data collected via social media platforms. The findings provide empirical support for the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework for understanding sustainable plastic purchasing decisions.

2024 International Journal of Management and Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The value of multi-proxy experiments to study pro-environmental behavior

This methodological study argues that pro-environmental behavior research should use multiple proxy measures rather than relying on a single behavioral indicator, since different measures capture different dimensions of environmental action. The recommendation is relevant to studies assessing consumer responses to plastic pollution and waste reduction initiatives.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of mortality salience and explicit self-esteem on plastic reduction intention: A moderated mediation model

Researchers tested whether mortality salience—reminding people of death—combined with self-esteem levels influenced attitudes toward plastic reduction for future generations. High mortality salience increased pro-environmental attitudes in people with high explicit self-esteem but had the opposite effect in those with low self-esteem, suggesting terror management dynamics shape plastic reduction intentions.

2025 PLoS ONE
Article Tier 2

Self-reported behaviours and measures related to plastic waste reduction: European citizens’ perspective

Researchers analyzed Eurobarometer survey data on European attitudes toward plastic waste and found that while citizens recognize plastic pollution as a serious environmental problem, concern does not consistently translate into reduced plastic use behaviors, with women, younger adults, and higher-income respondents being most likely to act.

2023 Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 6 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

The impact of perceived risk of online takeout packaging and the moderating role of educational level

Researchers surveyed 336 consumers in China and found that awareness of packaging pollution risk significantly dampened their willingness to order online takeout food, with attitudes and social norms partially explaining the effect. Higher education levels sharpened this response, suggesting that better-informed consumers are more likely to factor plastic pollution risk into food purchasing decisions.

2023 Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Analyzing the Sociodemographic and Psychological Factors Influencing the Intention to Consume Single-Use Plastics Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study

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.

2025 Jurnal Teknokes
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review On Consumer Behavior toward Plastic Consumption In Asian Countries

This systematic review summarizes research on consumer attitudes and behaviors toward plastic use across Asian countries. Understanding what drives people to use or avoid plastic products is important for reducing microplastic pollution at its source, since everyday plastic consumption is the upstream cause of the microplastic contamination found in our food, water, and bodies.

2021 ADVANCES IN BUSINESS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Regional Insights on the Usage of Single-Use Plastics and Their Disposal in Five Asian Cities

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,500 people across five Asian cities to understand how single-use plastics are consumed and disposed of in the region. They found significant differences in plastic consumption patterns between cities, with food packaging and plastic bags being the most commonly used items. The study provides data to help policymakers design targeted interventions to reduce plastic waste and marine pollution in rapidly developing parts of Asia.

2025 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors Influencing Consumers' Intention to Avoid Fast Fashion: A Comparative Study of Milan and Shanghai

Fast fashion is a significant source of microplastic pollution because synthetic clothing fibers shed during washing and enter waterways. This cross-cultural study compared what drives consumers in Milan and Shanghai to avoid plastic-based fast fashion, finding that personal attitudes and environmental concern are powerful motivators in both cities — but with different emphases: attitude toward behavior was stronger in Shanghai while value-based environmental concern was more influential in Milan. The results suggest that reducing clothing-related microplastic pollution requires culturally tailored messaging rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

2026 European Journal of Innovative Studies and Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Who worries about microplastics? The relative importance of personal values and individual risk judgements / ¿A quién le preocupan los microplásticos? La importancia relativa de los valores personales y los juicios individuales de riesgo

Researchers surveyed nearly 700 people in Norway to understand what drives public worry about microplastic pollution. They found that personal values and individual risk perceptions were the strongest predictors of concern, more so than demographic factors or general environmental attitudes. The study suggests that communication strategies about microplastic risks should account for how people personally evaluate threats rather than relying solely on scientific information.

2024 PsyEcology Bilingual Journal of Environmental Psychology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire Assessing Plastic Use Patterns, Knowledge, and Attitudes Toward Microplastics in Relation to Cognitive Function in Indonesia

Researchers developed and validated a questionnaire to assess plastic use patterns, microplastic knowledge, and attitudes among Indonesian adults, with a focus on potential associations with cognitive function. The study provides a validated tool for measuring public awareness of microplastic exposure in Indonesia, where plastic pollution is particularly severe, and explores the emerging concern about neurocognitive effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastamination, Human Health, and Countries’ Cultural Orientation: an Exploratory Study in Preventing the Negative Effects Adopting Organizational Policies and Practices

This exploratory study examined how national cultural orientation (individualism vs. collectivism) relates to organizational policies addressing plastic contamination health risks, finding that collectivist cultural contexts may be more amenable to implementing preventive workplace and public health policies.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of Plastic Usage and the Factors Associated With It Among Adults in Perambalur District of South India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Researchers surveyed 1,200 adults in South India about their plastic use habits, finding that 92.5% use plastic daily despite widespread awareness of its harms and local bans on plastic bags. The study found that younger, urban, more educated, and male participants were the heaviest plastic users, indicating that awareness alone is not enough to change behavior.

2023 Cureus 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing marine citizenship as a strategy to promote the reduction of single-use plastics consumption in different cultures

Researchers studied single-use plastic (SUP) consumption behaviors and the concept of 'marine citizenship' — personal responsibility for ocean health — across different national cultures to evaluate whether promoting marine citizenship can reduce SUP use and drive adoption of sustainable alternatives. The study examined how cultural context shapes the effectiveness of marine citizenship-based intervention strategies for reducing plastic pollution at the consumer level.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Household-Level Strategies to Tackle Plastic Waste Pollution in a Transitional Country

Researchers surveyed 730 Vietnamese households on plastic waste management strategies, finding that waste sorting, environmental fund contributions, and willingness to relocate from polluted areas varied based on socioeconomic factors and environmental awareness.

2023 Urban Science 48 citations