Insufficient academic attention has been paid to household water conservation behavior in arid and semi-arid areas of developing countries. Based on a questionnaire survey, this study analyzed factors influencing the water conservation behavior of urban residents in Zhangye City in China. Of the two variables addressed in the theory of reasoned action, attitudes toward water conservation had no obvious influence on water conservation behavior, whereas subjective norms did have an influence. Furthermore, general environmental concerns had no direct, significant influence on water conservation behavior. It has been argued that environmental motivational factors have a limited influence on water conservation behavior. The theory of reasoned action may not sufficiently explain domestic water conservation behavior in the study area, where the economy remains underdeveloped. Three contextual factors, beliefs regarding local water resources, incremental water conservation information and attitudes toward frugality, were significantly correlated with water conservation behavior.
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Research Article|
July 08 2013
Factors influencing water conservation behavior among urban residents in China's arid areas
Genying Chang
1MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental System and Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Tianshuinanlu 222, 730000, Lanzhou, China
E-mail: [email protected]
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Water Policy (2013) 15 (5): 691–704.
Article history
Received:
May 30 2012
Accepted:
April 26 2013
Citation
Genying Chang; Factors influencing water conservation behavior among urban residents in China's arid areas. Water Policy 1 October 2013; 15 (5): 691–704. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2013.093
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